Punjab Government has dissolved all 12,775 panchayats in the State, paving way for the panchayat elections.
“The election procedure would be completed before May 31. And the notification for the election might be issued within a week,” Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra said. He also took the opportunity to announce the dissolution of all the panchayats.
Rakhra reiterated Punjab Government's resolve to ensure free and fair elections in the State adopting transparent and candid means.
“Strict instructions have been issued to the officers in this regard. After the dissolution of panchayats, BDPOs, Panchayat Officers, and JEs have been conferred administrative powers so that day-to-day works of the village does not suffer,” he added.
The Minister directed the officers concerned to take the relevant documents and funds from the outgoing Sarpanchs.
Rakhra further said that Punjab Government has constituted 399 new gram panchayats, four Panchayat Samitis and two Zila Parishads considering the reasonable demand of people.
With this, now election for 13,110 gram panchayats, 145 Panchayat samitis and 22 Zila Parishads would be conducted.
Minister said that 13,110 panchayats are comprised of 81,631 wards, out of which 18,515 wards are reserved for Schedule Castes, 9,821 for Schedule Caste ladies, 18,929 for ladies, 3,241 for backward classes and 30,825 for general category.
“Panchayat Samitis are comprised in 2,732 zones, out of which 617 zones are reserved for Schedule Castes, 311 for Schedule Caste ladies, 590 for ladies, 1,183 for General and 31 for Backward Classes. Whereas 22 Zila Parishads in Punjab are comprised of 333 zones, 75 zones are reserved for Schedule Castes, 37 for Schedule Caste ladies, 71 for ladies, 147 for general category and 3 for Backward Classes,” he added.