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THE Hon’ble Mian Fazl-i-Hussain and the Hon’ble Lala Harkishen Lal, Ministers in the Punjab, have, in the course of an interview given recently to a representative of the “Civil and Military Gazette,” stated that they have been contemplating the introduction of certain Bills calculated to improve sanitation, education, development of municipalities and small towns and the grant of powers to the rural people to settle petty litigation and generally manage local affairs. These ministers have been in office long enough to be able to formulate certain proposals that are likely to give some measure of satisfaction to the people that the Reforms are not a “delusion”. Moreover, the ministers, who are selected from among the best men representing the popular view, have, to justify their selection, to give proof of their efforts to introduce reforms on popular lines. Ministers in Bengal, United Provinces and Bombay have already taken steps to introduce popular changes in their respective departments, and it is satisfactory to note that Punjab does not lag behind in this matter. In Bengal, at any rate, the ministers have been freely consulting other popular leaders and holding conferences to decide what particular reforms or changes are necessary and practicable. We hope that the Punjab ministers will be equally solicitous in the matter and will tour in the provinces to consult the people and study their wants on the spot so that they may be in a better position to formulate changes and introduce them in the best and most practical form possible. It appears that the Hon’ble Mian Fazl-i-Hussain intends introducing five bills relating to panchayats, improvement of towns, municipalities and district boards. The Panchayat Act will probably be drafted on the lines of the Bengal Act and give judicial and administrative powers of a limited nature to the local people.