Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday virtually inaugurated the construction of 500 modern Panchayat Ghars and Common Service Centres (CSCs) across Punjab, at an estimated cost of ₹125 crore.
Speaking on the occasion from Fatehgarh Sahib, where the project is being launched, Mann said that every village with a population above 2,800 will get a Panchayat Ghar and a CSC — with ₹20 lakh earmarked for each Panchayat Ghar and ₹5 lakh for each CSC. In the first phase, 500 villages without existing Panchayat Ghars have been selected.
He explained that Panchayat Ghars will serve as central hubs for discussions and planning village development, while CSCs will be the backbone of the rural digital revolution, providing easy access to online services such as government schemes, educational admissions, Aadhaar and passport applications, and more. Mann said this initiative will give panchayats a common platform to take collective decisions for progress.
CM Bhagwant pointed out that earlier governments neglected panchayats, often not even providing a place for them to meet. He highlighted ongoing transformations in Punjab — from 90% of households getting zero electricity bills, to canal water reaching even remote villages, and the revival of nearly 15,947 water channels. He added that the government has so far given around 55,000 merit-based government jobs to youth.
CM Bhagwant Mann also spoke about the state’s aggressive campaign against drugs under “Yudh Nasheyan Virudh,” which includes dismantling supply chains, jailing major offenders, and seizing their property. He said public participation has turned this into a mass movement, with 700 panchayats in Fatehgarh Sahib pledging to keep their villages drug-free.
Taking aim at traditional political parties, Mann accused their leaders of being power-hungry and visionless, in contrast to his government’s focus on honest governance and public welfare. He said Punjab is now seeing a reverse migration trend, with youth choosing to stay and contribute to the state’s economic growth.
CM Bhagwant Mann reaffirmed his government’s commitment to realizing the dreams of martyrs, ensuring corruption-free governance, and building a “Rangla Punjab” — vibrant, inclusive, and progressive. He said Punjab is moving from a regressive past to a prosperous future, restoring its lost glory after years of misrule.
Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sondh and other dignitaries were also present.