Jalandhar: Villagers also give migrants a chance to work as Panch

Jalandhar: Three migrant labourers who contested for the post of Panch in the Panchayat Elections from Jalandhar have been elected. Vinod Muni, who was contesting against another migrant labourer Ranjit Muni from Sanghowal, has been elected as Panch, while migrant Pawan Kumar from the same village has been elected unopposed as Panch. Interestingly, Inder, who was elected Panch from Fazalpur village, does not even have a permanent house. He wants to dedicate his term to the development of the village. The dominant Jat community and the substantial migrant community in Sanghowal had fought shoulder to shoulder. Vinod Muni, who was also the previous Panch, had promised to ensure the development of the village and facilities to the people. When the results were declared, the migrant Panch candidates and the village Sarpanch Kulwant Singh along with the Panchs distributed sweets and celebrated together. Rajinder Singh, a village resident, said, “There is no difference between the two communities. We are all together. Farmers cannot survive without labourers. We all work together. They are like our extended family in the fields and homes. There are more than 800 migrants in the village and the election of our panch is a collective victory for all of us.” Vinod Muni, who won as a panch, said, “My aim is to work with the people and fulfil the promises that were not fulfilled.” Pawan Kumar said, “I do contract farming and have brought my children here. I am grateful to the village and the community for this position.” Inder (35) of Fazalpur village in Kartarpur works at a potato shop and earns just Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 a month. “I will spend my term as a panch to ensure that people get all the basic amenities,” said Inder, who hails from Bihar’s Saharsa district.