Every sarpanch or panch must take permission from the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) before going abroad. They must apply for leave at least a month in advance. If the sarpanch is away, another panch will handle daily duties to keep village work running.

Many officials said village projects often stop when leaders travel overseas. Punjab has 13,238 sarpanches and 83,437 panches, and this rule will help maintain smooth governance.

Maninder Singh, president of the Sangrur Sarpanch Union, supported the move. He said the new rule will save villagers from delays in routine services. After returning, the leaders must submit an attendance report before resuming their posts.

The step will ensure constant administration and better accountability. In future, Punjab plans to start an online system for leave approval and tracking to improve transparency.

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