Panchayats are backbone of democracy, says Mukesh Agnihotri at Una event

Una (The Uttam Hindu): Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri inaugurated a new Panchayat Community Center in Kungrat and laid the foundation stone for another at Beaton in the Haroli Assembly constituency of Una. Speaking at the event, he said that Gram Panchayats form the foundation of democracy and community centres play a key role in promoting rural development. The Kungrat centre is being constructed with financial assistance of about ₹1.14 crore, with the first phase completed at a cost of ₹33 lakh. The Beaton Panchayat Community Center will be built at an estimated cost of ₹1.15 crore and will include modern facilities such as a meeting hall, Gram Sabha auditorium, Lokmitra Kendra and library.

He said the state government is working to strengthen Panchayats by providing better resources and modern infrastructure. Panchayat centres will help public representatives carry out their work efficiently and enable citizens to access various government services at one place. The government is also focusing on improving basic amenities such as roads, drinking water, electricity, health and education in rural areas.

Agnihotri said the Beet region of Haroli is developing rapidly with projects such as a traffic park, automated testing centre, heliport and modern running track under construction. Efforts are also underway to strengthen irrigation and drinking water facilities through lift water schemes that aim to benefit dozens of villages and expand irrigation coverage. He added that several educational institutions have been established or upgraded in the area, creating better opportunities especially for girls.

Taxi operators also thanked the government for extending vehicle permit validity from 12 to 15 years. He further noted that the Transport Department has achieved strong financial performance, generating about ₹1,000 crore in revenue, including significant income from the choice number scheme.