Concentrate on social work: Manohar Joshi tells gram panchayats

Aurangabad, Maharashtra, Apr 1 (UNI) Senior Shiv Sena leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi today advised the gram panchayat members to concentrate on social work and avoid unnecessary politics, in order to carry out development in their villages.

Addressing a gathering of gram panchayat members from various villages in the district at the one-day training session organised by the party's district unit here, Mr Joshi said there have been instances in country's democracy that the good work by the panchayat members sent them to the highest office in the country, and suggested the members to concentrate on the development of their villages.

Referring to the Panchayat Raj Bill, the country had introduced when late Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister of the country, Mr Joshi said it was the dream of Mahatma Gandhi, who had introduced the concept.

The former State Chief Minister also told the gathering of 5,000-odd gram panchayat members to make the rural development a movement by their initiatives.

He also suggested them to find out novel ways to enhance their income, in order to make their villages self-sufficient.

He also asked them to follow discipline and make its use in various drives like cleanliness and alcohol-prohibition.

On the occasion, Shiv Sena deputy leader Chandrakant Khaire, MLAs from the district and party's district unit presidents Pradip Jaiswal and Ambadas Danwe were also present.

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