Chandigarh, Jul 7 (IANS): Stressing that connect with the media would be strengthened, Punjab minister Aman Arora on Thursday assumed charge of the Information and Public Relations, New and Renewable Energy and Housing and Urban Development departments here in the presence of his Cabinet colleagues.

Arora, who has been elected for the second consecutive time as the MLA from Sunam, expressed gratitude towards the party national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and assured that he would discharge the responsibility assigned to him with honesty and dedication.

Later interacting with the media, he said the welfare centric and pro-people schemes and projects of the state government would be taken to the common masses with the aid of modern techniques so as to ensure that the benefit accrues to the actual beneficiaries.

"The connect with the media would be strengthened and emphasis would be on providing a transparent, clean, accountable and a responsive administration," he added.