Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 23

Members of the Sarpanch (Panchayat) Union of Punjab took out a protest march against pending MGNREGA payments and development works in rural areas, in Patiala on Monday.

Amid rain, over 1,000 sarpanches, panches and their supporters gathered atthe PUDA ground and marched towards the CM’s residence in the noon. The protesters said their demands weren’t heard by the ministers. Ravinder Singh Rinku (Gurney), state vice-president of the union, said, “The government has delayed the MGNREGApayments, which are meant for various developmental works in rural areas.”

He said, “The sarpanch, along with the secretary, has been given the right to issue a cheque of maximum Rs 25,000 for any work. The limit should be increased to Rs 1 lakh, in view of pending works to be carried out.”

The government should accept the demands of employees working at various offices, who have been holding regular protests. “The pending resolutions of demands have delayed the works to be carried out in the villages. This is causing inconveniences to the residents,” the protesters said. Rinku said, “We are public representatives like MLAs. However, the government pays us Rs 1,200 per month to a sarpanch. The amount is meagre, and even that has not been paid. We want the government to increase it to Rs 25,000, as we work 24 hours a day.”

Meanwhile, the protest will continue tomorrow.