CM REITERATES COMMITMENT OF STATE GOVERNMENT TO TRANSFORM DESTINY OF YOUTH BY MAKING THEM JOB GIVERS INSTEAD OF JOB SEEKERS

INTERACTS WITH THE STUDENTS OF THE SCHOOL OF EMINENCE AT MORINDA

ENVISIONS THESE SCHOOLS AS “TEMPLES OF THE MODERN ERA”

Morinda (Rupnagar), October 23:Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday said that the state government is making concerted efforts to transform the destiny of the youth by making them job givers instead of job seekers.

Interacting with the students of Shaheed Subedar Mewa Singh School of Eminence here today, the Chief Minister said that the state government has heralded a new era of Education Revolution in Punjab. He said that this revolution is giving desired results by grooming the students for futuristic competitions and enabling them to excel in life. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that on one hand unprecedented steps have been taken to provide jobs to the youth and on the other several endeavors have been made to channelize their unbounded energy in the state.

The Chief Minister said that as runways at the airports facilitate an airplane for its smooth take off in the same manner the state government is helping the youth to realize their dreams. He said that in order to help the children of Punjab turn their dreams into reality and reach new heights in life, the state launched an “Education Revolution” in 2022. Bhagwant Singh Mann bemoaned that looking back at the past, it is truly disheartening to see how flawed policies once deprived poor children of their right to education.

However, the Chief Minister said that now the state government has taken revolutionary steps in the field of education that are now being widely appreciated across the country. He said that a total of 118 Schools of Eminence are being established in the state, with an investment of Rs 231.74 crore so far. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these schools are considered a remarkable beginning toward a bright future for underprivileged children.

The Chief Minister said that students in these schools are being provided free uniforms, and, in particular, free bus services have been arranged for girls so that not a single girl is left behind in accessing education. He envisioned that these schools will serve as “temples of the modern era,” illuminating the lives of thousands of students. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that students from private schools are now seeking admission into these Schools of Eminence, reflecting the success of this model.

The Chief Minister said that students are being offered specialized coaching for competitive examinations such as Armed Forces Preparation, NEET, JEE, CLAT, and NIFT. He said that it is a matter of immense pride that from Schools of Eminence and other government schools, 265 students qualified for JEE Mains, 44 cleared JEE Advanced, and 848 students qualified for NEET. Bhagwant Singh Mann further said that in another innovative initiative, the School Mentorship Programme has been launched, under which senior officers are guiding students in government schools.

Likewise, the Chief Minister said that the concept of Parent-Teacher Meetings has also been introduced and has received overwhelming support from parents. He said that Punjab currently has 19,200 government schools, and nearly 25 lakh parents have participated in PTMs. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is making determined efforts to bridge the gap between government and private schools in terms of quality and facilities.

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AROUND 61.01 LAKH MT PROCURED IN PUNJAB, PAYMENT WORTH RS 13073.07 CRORE MADE TO FARMERS : SAYS CM

CM SEEKS RELAXATION IN UNIFORM SPECIFICATIONS OF PADDY PROCUREMENT FROM GOI IN WAKE OF FLOODS

VISITS GRAIN MARKET AT BASSI PATHANA AND MORINDA, REITERATES COMMITMENT FOR SMOOTH AND HASSLE FREE PROCUREMENT AND LIFTING

Bassi Pathana/ Morinda, October 23:In wake of the massive damage caused to the paddy crops due to the floods in the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday urged the Government of India (GOI) to give relaxation in the uniform specifications for Paddy procurement.

The Chief Minister, who inspected the ongoing procurement operations in the local grain market, said that the farmers of the state have suffered huge loss due to the flood fury in the state. He said that in wake of loss suffered by the food growers due to such inclement weather conditions the Government of India should give relaxation in uniform specifications for Paddy procurement because the moisture content, damaged and discoloured grains quantity in paddy has increased. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he has already requested the Union government in this regard to facilitate the farmers of the state as preliminary findings indicate damage and discolouration of paddy in several affected areas due to the unprecedented floods.

The Chief Minister further said that despite massive devastation caused by floods in the state, Punjab is still expected to contribute 170 LMT of paddy to the national pool. He said that elaborate arrangements have been made in Mandis to ensure that every grain produced through the hard work and dedication of Punjabi farmers is purchased in a smooth and hassle free manner. Bhagwant Singh Mann informed that the Punjab government has notified 1,822 regular purchase centers for procurement of paddy in KMS 2025–26, and that all these notified mandis have been duly allotted by the Department of Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs, Punjab.

The Chief Minister revealed that till today, 63.49 lakh MT of paddy had arrived in the mandis, out of which 61.01 lakh MT had already been purchased. He said that, in line with the state government’s norm to ensure lifting within 72 hours of procurement, an impressive 91.80% lifting had been achieved. Bhagwant Singh Mann further mentioned that payments totaling Rs 13073.07 crore had already been made to farmers for the procured grains.

The Chief Minister said that due to the strenuous efforts made by the state government the procurement operation in the mandis has been very smooth and hassle free. He said that every effort is being made to facilitate the farmers in selling their produce so that they do not face any sort of inconvenience in the mandis. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that due to the concerted efforts made by the state government timely and prompt lifting of the crop is being ensured from the mandis for which transport facilities have been roped in, adding that payment was made to the farmers for their produce within 24 hours of the purchase of their yield.

Replying to another query, the Chief Minister slammed the Union government for meting out step motherly treatment with the state especially in this hour of grave crisis. He said that the state is yet to receive Rs 1600 crore announced by the Prime Minister for the flood relief. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Union government should stop this maltreatment with the state which is the food bowl and the sword arm of the country.

The Chief Minister said that health, education, power, water and infrastructure are the top five priorities of his government and no stone is being left unturned for it. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that while the other political parties have always pursued the agenda of hatred and divisiveness, the state government has accorded top priority to these sectors. He said that the state government has set up Schools of Eminence across the state to impart quality education to the students.

The Chief Minister said that 265 students from Schools of Eminence and other government schools have qualified for the JEE Mains exam. Likewise, he said that 44 students have cleared JEE Advanced and 848 students have qualified for NEET. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics have been opened in the last three years, and this number will soon cross 1,000 adding that so far these clinics have provided free medicine to 1.75 crore people.

The Chief Minister said that due to strenuous efforts of the state government 90% of households in Punjab are receiving zero electricity bills, which has provided huge economic relief to the public. He said that Punjab has emerged as a lighthouse for the country with these power sector reforms adding that every effort is being made to make Punjab a frontrunner state in the country. Bhagwant Singh Mann said after assuming charge his government has taken several key initiatives in the power sector adding that these power sector reforms will further strengthen the power sector in the state.

The Chief Minister said that he will formally extend an invitation to the President of India Droupadi Murmu to attend a series of events being organized by the state government to commemorate 350th martyrdom day of Ninth Guru Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji. He said that the state government will make complete logistic and security arrangements for this gala event to make this a memorable experience for one and all by joining the auspicious event. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government has already chalked a number of events to commemorate this once in a lifetime event across the state in a befitting manner.

The Chief Minister said that these series of events will be organized with deep reverence and respect across the state and these historic events will primarily take place on the sacred land of Sri Anandpur Sahib under the auspices of the state government. He said that the underlying message of the series of events will be to encourage the people to follow the high ideals of secularism, humanism and spirit of sacrifice as preached and practiced by the Ninth Guru Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji, who had laid down his life to protect the right of freedom to worship and preserve human rights along with secular values. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the supreme sacrifice of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur ji was unique and unparalleled in the history of mankind and symbolized the crusade against injustice, tyranny and oppression.

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Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora Helps Pathankot Family Bring Home Mortal Remains of Kin Who Died in Romania

Chandigarh, 23 October 2025:Punjab’s Minister for NRI Affairs, Sanjeev Arora, has extended crucial assistance to a grieving family from Pathankot in repatriating the mortal remains of their 32-year-old relative, Kuldeep Kumar, who passed away earlier this month in Timisoara, Romania.

Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora informed that Kuldeep Kumar, a resident of Sujanpur in Pathankot district, was employed at S.C. Stareto S.R.L. in Timisoara. His family was informed of his death on October 3 by one of his colleagues, Shamsher Singh, who also worked in Romania. In a letter to the authorities, Kuldeep’s brother, Hira Singh, sought government help to bring back the body to India.

Following the family’s plea, Punjab’s Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Lal Chand Kataruchak, forwarded the request to Minister Sanjeev Arora, who promptly wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Embassy of India in Bucharest, urging assistance to facilitate the repatriation.

In his official communication, Minister Arora stated, “The family is in profound grief and urgently seeks the return of his mortal remains to India for the performance of his last rites.”

The minister further requested the Indian mission to “coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and the High Commission of Romania in New Delhi to extend all possible assistance to the grieving family during this critical hour.”

Following his appeal, the Embassy of India in Bucharest confirmed that it was in “constant touch with the family members and Romanian authorities” and was taking necessary steps to expedite the repatriation. Sitesh Kumar, Second Secretary (Consular) at the Embassy, assured that efforts were underway to complete the formalities at the earliest.

On October 22, Bibhuti Pandey, Under Secretary in the External Affairs Minister’s Office, informed Minister Arora that the Indian Embassy had finalised a funeral agency to manage the repatriation. Shortly after, an email from the agency confirmed that it had taken custody of the mortal remains and secured the necessary documentation from Timisoara.

The coordinated efforts between Punjab’s NRI Affairs Department, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Indian Embassy in Romania brought relief to the bereaved family, who had been awaiting the return of Kuldeep’s mortal remains to perform his last rites.

The case highlights the Punjab government’s proactive efforts under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal, ensuring timely assistance to families of Punjabis residing abroad in times of distress.