Rural Common Service Centres to Drive Digital Revolution: Panchayat Minister
Chandigarh, August 25, 2025
Punjab’s Rural Development and Panchayat Minister, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, announced that the construction of modern Panchayat Ghars and Common Service Centres (CSCs) will usher in a new era of village development. In the first phase, 500 such facilities are being established across the state at a cost of Rs 125 crore. Recently, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann launched this ambitious project from Fatehgarh Sahib.
Sond explained that villages with a population exceeding 2,800 will each receive a Panchayat Ghar, costing Rs 20 lakh, and a Common Service Centre, costing Rs 5 lakh. Priority has been given to villages lacking Panchayat Ghars. He highlighted that, despite Panchayats being the cornerstone of democracy, many villages previously lacked basic infrastructure for meetings, a gap these new facilities aim to bridge.
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The Minister emphasized that these centres will offer a range of services to rural residents. Panchayat Ghars will serve as more than just offices, acting as key hubs for discussions and decision-making to drive rural development. Similarly, Common Service Centres will form the backbone of the digital revolution in villages, providing easy access to online services.
Sond underscored the significance of digital infrastructure in today’s era, noting that services such as registration for government schemes, educational admissions, Aadhaar cards, passports, and more are now available online. The CSCs will play a crucial role in making these services accessible to rural communities. He expressed optimism that this initiative will empower Panchayats with a robust platform to collaborate and make collective decisions for the progress of their villages.
