*68,500 acres in 56 villages of Shutrana constituency get canal irrigation: Barinder Kumar Goyal*

*Irrigation projects worth Rs.80.35 crore inaugurated at Buta Singh Wala and Badshahpur*

*Chandigarh/Patran, July 30:*Punjab Water Resources and Soil & Water Conservation Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal today inaugurated canal irrigation projects at villages Buta Singh Wala and Badshahpur in the Shutrana Assembly constituency.

The Cabinet Minister said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is expanding canal irrigation across the state. He informed that canals, distributaries and sub-minors measuring 137.13 km have been renovated in Shutrana at a cost of Rs.80.35 crore, benefiting nearly 68,500 acres of agricultural land in 56 villages. In addition, 53.9 km of pipelines have been laid at a cost of Rs.8.89 crore, extending canal water to around 9,302 acres in 18 villages.

Reviewing the Ghaggar embankment strengthening works at Badshahpur, the Cabinet Minister said that vulnerable stretches of the riverbank have been reinforced with stone pitching and wire mesh at a cost of Rs.2.46 crore. He added that the extensive flood protection works undertaken by the Drainage Department have significantly strengthened the embankments, and a river gauge similar to Khanouri will also be installed at Badshahpur.

Shutrana MLA Kulwant Singh Bazigar thanked Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Water Resources Minister Barinder Goyal for fulfilling the long-pending demand of farmers. He said the projects would ensure reliable irrigation, benefit thousands of farmers and further strengthen agriculture in the region.

Former MLA Vaninder Kaur Loomba, Superintending Engineer Rajinder Ghai, Executive Engineers Gundeep Singh and Akash Aggarwal, besides a large number of farmers and local residents, were present on the occasion.

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*Punjab Sikhya Kranti: Bhagwant Mann Govt Honours Over 300 Principals for Record NEET, JEE Results*

*• Punjab Govt Schools Scripting New Success Story in Competitive Exams Under Punjab Sikhya Kranti: Harjot Singh Bains*

*• 361 Students Qualify JEE (Main), 64 Crack JEE (Advanced) and 882 Clear NEET-UG 2026 From Govt Schools: Harjot Singh Bains*

*•Everything Rests With Principal; Good Principal Can Transform School Into a Temple of Learning: Harjot Singh Bains*

*•Punjab Sikhya Kranti Has Transformed Govt Schools Into Gateways to IITs, NITs and Medical Colleges: Manish Sisodia*

*•Teachers Are Real Architects of Punjab Sikhya Kranti & State’s Educational Transformation: Manish Sisodia*

CHANDIGARH; July 30:Recognising the exemplary mentorship and commitment towards fostering academic excellence in government schools, Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, along with former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and AAP Punjab Prabhari Manish Sisodia, felicitated over 300 principals of government schools whose students qualified the JEE (Main), JEE (Advanced) and NEET-UG 2026 examinations under the Punjab Academic Coaching for Excellence (PACE) initiative.

Addressing the felicitation ceremony held at Mohali Club in SAS Nagar, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said, “Punjab Government schools have recorded another year of remarkable success in national-level competitive examinations. 361 students qualified JEE (Main) 2026, registering a 35.2% increase over the previous year, while 64 students qualified JEE (Advanced), reflecting a 45.5% year-on-year increase,” he added.

The Education Minister noted, “882 students from Punjab Government schools qualified NEET-UG 2026, compared to 847 in 2025 and 437 in 2024, marking growth of over 100% in just two years. These achievements reflect the sustained impact of Punjab Sikhya Kranti and the strengthening of academic support in government schools.”

The Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains pointed out 10 students from government schools have secured admission to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), 36 students to the National Institutes of Technology (NITs), and more than 90 students to government engineering colleges across the country. “These figures demonstrate that Punjab Government schools are now producing students capable of entering the country’s premier institutions,” he added.

The Education Minister affirmed, “Today, Punjab’s education model is being discussed across the nation. This is the result of our teachers’ hard work, dedication and commitment. In 2022, fewer than 80 students from government schools qualified these examinations. Today, 882 students from every district of Punjab have qualified NEET.”

Highlighting the pivotal role of school heads, Minister Harjot Singh Bains said, “For the last four years, I have maintained that everything rests with the principal. A good principal can transform a dilapidated building into a temple of learning. But without love for teaching, even the best policies will fail and that same school will be reduced to ruins.”

He further informed that the School Education Department organised four large-scale residential coaching camps in June 2026 at Amritsar, Bathinda, Jalandhar and Mohali, benefiting 3,000 students through intensive academic sessions, doubt resolution, mock tests, mentoring and focused preparation for JEE and NEET.

Congratulating the principals, Harjot Singh Bains said, “I am confident that you and the entire school staff will continue to contribute to the Punjab Sikhya Kranti with the same passion, dedication and unwavering commitment, and make the state of Punjab proud.”

Addressing the gathering, former Delhi Deputy CM and AAP Punjab Prabhari Manish Sisodia said, “A building alone does not make a school. Government can construct buildings, but it is teachers who transform it into a place of learning and aspiration.”

He said Punjab Sikhya Kranti is focused on creating world-class infrastructure in government schools while simultaneously strengthening academic support through expert coaching, structured mentoring, continuous assessments and residential programmes, enabling students from government schools to compete with the best in JEE, NEET and other national-level examinations.

Manish Sisodia said, “For lakhs of students, the government school is no longer a compromise. It is now a gateway to IITs, NITs, medical colleges and a better future.”

The event was also attended by PDC Member Anurag Kundu, Director School Education (Secondary) S.S. Bal and other senior officials of the School Education Department.

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Health Minister Emphasises Healthy Food at Food Safety Seminar

Pure Food is the Foundation of a Healthy Society: Dr. Balbir Singh

Safe Food Will Build a Vibrant Punjab: Health Minister

Chandigarh/Patiala, July 30:Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh today attended a Food Safety Seminar as the Chief Guest at Hotel Shaurya on the theme, "Rangla Punjab is Our Shared Responsibility—Safe and Nutritious Food, the Foundation of Good Health." The seminar was jointly organised by the Deputy Commissioner, Patiala, the Office of the Civil Surgeon, and the Food Safety Department.

Addressing the seminar, Dr. Balbir Singh said that "As the food, so the mind" is not merely a saying but the fundamental mantra for a healthy life. He said that just as clean air and pure water are essential for human health, safe, nutritious, and quality food is also an important foundation for a healthy life.

He said that creating awareness among people about healthy eating habits is the need of the hour to realise the dream of 'Rangla Punjab' envisioned by Chief Minister Sardar Bhagwant Singh Mann. With this objective, the State Government has been continuously organising such awareness seminars.

The Health Minister stated that experts from the Agricultural University, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), and farmers practising natural and organic farming participated in the seminar. He said that these institutions would work in coordination to educate the younger generation about the importance of chemical-free and organic food. He added that farmers practising organic farming avoid the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, resulting in the production of healthy and high-quality food grains.

Dr. Balbir Singh appealed to people to adopt natural and organic food to the maximum extent possible, stating that the foundation of a healthy society rests on safe food. He also informed that the Health Department regularly inspects food business operators and vendors selling food items to ensure that people receive quality and safe food and to prevent any kind of adulterated or substandard food.

On this occasion, Food Safety Commissioner Kanwarpreet Brar, Additional Deputy Commissioner Navreet Kaur Sekhon, Dean C.O.C.S. Kiran Bains, V.C. P.A.U. Dr. S.S. Gosal, V.C. GADVASU J.S. Gill, Shri Rajveer Singh from Pingalwara, NGO representative Ms. Pragati, organic producer Shri Gurmeet Singh, Shri Umendra Dutt of Kheti Virasat Mission, Sarpanch of Kansua Shri Harpreet Singh, CEO of Chairs Food and Beverages Shri Harender Pal Singh Lamba, District Health Officer Dr. Gurpreet Kaur, Civil Surgeon Dr. Shelly Jetly, officers from various departments, experts, farmers, and other distinguished persons were present.

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*Expedite Recruitment Process in Horticulture Department: Mohinder Bhagat Directs Officials*

*Cabinet Minister Reviews Progress of State Horticulture Projects*

Chandigarh, July 30:The Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, is firmly committed to the development of the horticulture sector and is taking all necessary steps to achieve this objective. In furtherance of this commitment, Horticulture, Freedom Fighters and Defence Services Welfare Minister Mr. Mohinder Bhagat today reviewed the progress of ongoing works of the Horticulture Department at Chandigarh and directed officials to complete the ongoing recruitment process in the department at the earliest.

Mr. Mohinder Bhagat said that the availability of adequate manpower in the department would strengthen the effective implementation of the Government’s welfare schemes and ensure the timely delivery of improved services to horticulturists. He instructed officials to complete the recruitment process in a transparent, fair, and time-bound manner.

During the meeting, Secretary, Horticulture, Mr. Arshdeep Singh Thind, and Director, Horticulture, Mr. Manish Kumar, gave a detailed presentation to the Cabinet Minister on various programmes, development works and other key initiatives being undertaken by the department.

Expressing satisfaction over the progress of the departmental projects, the Cabinet Minister further directed officials to maintain regular interaction with farmers, encourage them to adopt horticulture, and ensure that they receive maximum benefits of government schemes.

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*JOINT DIRECTOR SHIKHA NEHRA RETIRES AFTER 35 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE*

Chandigarh, July 30:The Joint Director, Information and Public Relations Department Punjab, Shikha Nehra superannuated today after putting in 35 years of service.

On the occasion of giving her a warm send off, State Media Head Baltej Singh Pannu recalled his long association with the superannuating officer and said that she always discharged her duty with complete dedication and professional commitment in a fearless manner and was really an asset to the department.

OSD (Media) to the Chief Minister Amanjot Singh described Mrs. Shikha Nehra as a role model worth emulating who mentored the young PR professionals and guided them at every step.

The Special Secretary cum Director, Information and Public Relations Department, Puneet Goyal wished the retiring officer all the best for her post retirement life and said that her services would always be remembered deeply for her professional skill and humane approach.

In her address, Mrs. Shikha Nehra went down the memory lane and recalled how the working of the department has evolved since 1991 when she joined as an APRO, in terms of technology. She also expressed profuse gratitude to the Department for this wonderful send off.

On the occasion the dignitaries felicitated Shikha Nehra for her long services.

Among others present on the occasion included the Deputy Secretary Deepankar Garg, Additional Director Randeep Singh Ahluwalia, Joint Directors Preet Kanwal Singh, Ishwinder Singh Grewal and Manvinder Singh, Deputy Directors Rashim Verma, Ruchi Kalra, Navdeep Singh Gill, Prabhdeep Singh, Hakam Thapar, Sherjung Singh Hundal and Narinder Pal Singh Jagdeo besides the family members of the retiree officer & entire PRO/APROs and DPRO and staff of the Department .