CHANDIGARH: Vigorously pursuing the social sector agenda for rejuvenation of rural life, the Punjab Governor and Administrator of the Union Territory of Chandigarh, S.F.Rodrigues, on Friday visited Mauli Jagran

village, a part of the Union Territory, to see for himself the living conditions of the inhabitants and the availability of various infrastructure facilities for them.

Accompanied by his wife, Jean Rodrigues, and senior officers of the Administration including Director Rural Development, Chief Engineer, and Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Gen. Rodrigues toured the village and inspected the un-hygienic conditions, scattered garbage, poor sanitation, ill-planned development, damaged streets and roads, faulty drainage system and poor maintenance of infrastructure.

Gen. Rodrigues interacted with the Panchayat members and residents and expressed his anguish over the poor performance of the village panchayat and the lack of interest being shown by the people in the development of the village.

He asked the Director Rural Development, the Municipal Commissioner and the Chief Engineer to coordinate and prepare a comprehensive Action Plan for the construction of roads, internal streets, brick lining of drainage system disposal of garbage, concreting of internal and circular roads, pavement of streets and the infrastructure for upgrading the quality of life of the people and making the village, a model one.

He directed that the blueprint of the Action Plan should be ready within 15 days and implemented within six months positively and asked the village panchayat and the Action group of professionals to extend their partnership and active participation in its

implementation.

This required hard work, commitment and dedication by the village panchayats, he added while emphasizing the need of establishing an institutional mechanism for proper monitoring and maintenance of the infrastructure.

Gen. Rodrigues said that the Administration would provide necessary funds, with technical know-how, to extend guidance and support.

He advised the village panchayat that they should change their mindset and attitudes, and come forward as concerned and responsive citizens for the development of the village, by making self-help groups and rising above petty considerations.

He added that the Administration proposed to set up a state-of-the-art milk plant in the Union Territory and all the cattle from different villages would be shifted to a well built milk colony equipped with all modern facilities.

Emphasizing the need for generating more resources at the village level, General Rodrigues said that all the residents must pay taxes and other dues for various public utility services being provided by the Administration.

The contribution made by the people will be utilized for their own good and welfare and for improving the service delivery systems.

Following the directive of the Administrator, the Director Rural Development and Panchayats, Amar Nath, called a meeting of the sarpanches of all the villages to actively join in the movement launched by the Chandigarh Administration in the planning and implementation of various programmes for modernising all the villages.

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