Govt notifies areas under panchayat secretaries

The Punjab government has issued a notification that panchayat secretaries will now work in the notified circles only.

The Punjab government has issued a notification that panchayat secretaries will now work in the notified circles only. Earlier,the block development officer (BDO) concerned allocated villages to panchayat secretaries. The government move follows allegations that BDOs gave more villages to favourites while other panchayat secretaries would be left out altogether.

The government had also received allegations about irregularities in the use of funds,as village heads would complain that the secretaries hardly visited their villages.

J P Singh,Divisional Director,Rural Development and Panchayats,Ferozepur,said: Now,the secretaries will have notified areas under them and have to take care of the villages. BDOs cannot increase or decrease the number of villages allocated to them.

Singh added: This will bring more transparency in the system. The secretary will be at his headquarter and approachable to the masses.

In Ferozepur district,there are a total of 2,473 panchayats under 590 circles formed by government. Moga will have 80 circles,Muktsar 68 and Faridkot 44. For Bathinda and Mansa,94 and 77 circles,respectively,have been notified.

The officers responsible for the transfer of these secretaries,for new appointments or dismissals (in case of non-performance) are yet to be appointed. Once they are appointed,the re-allotment of the villages will be done, said Singh.

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