Panchayats must create own income sources: Vikramaditya

Public Works and Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh on Monday urged all panchayats in Himachal Pradesh to develop their own sources of income, stressing the importance of financial self-reliance at the grassroots level.

He was addressing a public gathering at Ghandal village in Shimla district under the ‘Mantri Aapke Dwar’ programme, where he was joined by Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh. On the occasion, the ministers jointly inaugurated the newly constructed state-of-the-art Panchayat Ghar at Ghandal.

Vikramaditya said Panchayat Ghars equipped with modern facilities will enable local bodies to strengthen their income by taking innovative decisions and implementing community-based initiatives. Highlighting past and ongoing development in the region, he noted that during ex-CM Virbhadra Singh’s tenure, projects worth Rs 1,500 crore were executed in Shimla (Rural). Presently, developmental works worth Rs 33 crore are underway in Ghandal Panchayat under the PWD, along with other projects of Rs 11 lakh under different heads. He added that the restoration of Government Degree College, Dhami, damaged by heavy rains, is being carried out at a cost of Rs 5 crore.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Anirudh Singh credited former CM Virbhadra Singh for making Shimla (Rural) a hub of educational institutions. “As per the vision of CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, nine new Panchayat Ghars are being built in Shimla (Rural) at a cost of Rs 14.72 crore, of which seven will be inaugurated before the upcoming Panchayat elections,” Anirudh Singh said.