Village sets example by banning stubble burning

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 18

The Khassan village of Kapurthala, falling in the Nadala block, was on Wednesday selected for the Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar (NDRGGSP) for their outstanding contribution to the socio-economic development for the appraisal year 2016-17.

Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India has been incentivising the best performing panchayats recommended by the state governments and UT Administrations since 2011-12. The awards will be given on the National Panchayati Raj Day celebrated on 24th of April every year.

The main objective of instituting this award is to strengthen the institution of gram sabha and highlight it as an institution of decision making and auditing.

While confirming this, the village Sarpanch Dr Narinder Singh Kang informed that the village receives 24 hours supply of water and electricity. Besides, it is the first Open Defecation Free (ODF) village of district Kapurthala.

Approximately, 700 players and 140 officials from 28 states of India and five departmental teams had participated in this competition last year.

While informing more, Dr Kang said when present panchayat took over the charge in August 2013, the supply of drinking water was limited to 50% of the total village and the quality of the drinking water was not so good.

So it was the priority of the gram panchayat Khassan to provide 100% pure water to the village.

“The gram panchayat (GP) spent Rs 9,46,000 to create a project in which silver ionisation system is installed to provide pure water. This was the first such project in Punjab. Water meters were installed in each and every house to read the consumption of the water to control its wastage,” said Dr Kang adding that the move ensured marvelous result. The villagers managed to control 100 per cent water wastage.

The village also holds weekly awareness programmes to make the public aware of the management of garbage, to prevent use of plastic bags, woman empowerment, female foeticide, self employment, drug abuse, domestic violence, legal aid, government schemes, health problems and education of girls.

The villagers have also planted around 5,000 plants in the village for environment protection and motivation to the general public regarding green and clean village.

Six ponds were created for waste management. Four of them are for liquid waste and the other two are for solid waste. The gram panchayat also makes strenuous efforts by trying to educate the villagers about the waste and wealth management.