*Punjab Government provides financial assistance of ₹1.52 crore through loans and subsidies to 71 beneficiaries from Scheduled Castes: Dr. Baljit Kaur*

*Committed to economic empowerment of underprivileged sections and promotion of self-employment opportunities under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann*

*Financial support will help beneficiaries become self-reliant, generate livelihood opportunities and secure a better future for their families*

Chandigarh, October 9:As part of its continued efforts towards the economic empowerment and self-reliance of Scheduled Castes, the Punjab Government has provided loans along with subsidy amounting to ₹1.52 crore to 71 beneficiaries during the financial year 2026-27 so far under various schemes of the Punjab Scheduled Castes Land Development and Finance Corporation. This was disclosed by Dr. Baljit Kaur, Cabinet Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities.

Sharing details, Social Justice, Empowerment and Miniorties Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is committed to strengthening the economically weaker and disadvantaged sections of society by ensuring equal opportunities for growth and progress. She said that the objective of these schemes is to provide financial assistance to eligible beneficiaries, connect them with self-employment opportunities and encourage them towards becoming financially independent.

The Cabinet Minister said that financial assistance plays a crucial role in helping families become self-reliant, develop sustainable sources of income and move towards a better quality of life. She added that the government’s aim is not only to provide monetary support but also to instill confidence among beneficiaries and empower them to build a brighter future for themselves and their families.

Dr. Baljit Kaur said that various schemes being implemented through the Punjab Scheduled Castes Land Development and Finance Corporation are creating economic opportunities for members of the Scheduled Castes community and contributing towards improving their standard of living. She emphasized that ensuring inclusive development and empowering needy families financially remains a key priority of the Punjab Government.

Reiterating the government’s commitment towards social justice, equal opportunities and economic empowerment, the Cabinet Minister said that continuous efforts are being made for the welfare of disadvantaged sections so that they can lead a life of dignity, security and self-reliance.

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*PESCO Provided Employment to More Than 5,000 Personnel in Last One Year: Mohinder Bhagat*

*Cabinet Minister Extends Greetings on 48th Raising Day of PESCO*

Chandigarh, October 9:On the occasion of the 48th Raising Day of the Punjab Ex-Servicemen Corporation (PESCO), being observed today, October 10, Defence Services Welfare, Freedom Fighters and Horticulture Minister Mr Mohinder Bhagat extended his warm greetings and best wishes to all PESCO employees and members.

The Cabinet Minister complimented Chairman, PESCO Maj (Dr) Gurcharan Singh, Principal Secretary, Defence Services Welfare, Mr Sumer Singh Gurjar, Managing Director, PESCO, Maj Gen Harmandeep Singh (Retd.) and all employees of the corporation for their dedicated and sincere services to the State.

Mr Bhagat said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, PESCO had made significant progress and provided employment to more than 5,000 personnel over the last one year.

He wished all members of PESCO continued success and prosperity in the coming year. He added that the State Government remains committed to strengthening PESCO and ensuring greater employment opportunities, welfare and dignity for ex-servicemen and their families.

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*Punjab Government Bringing Revolutionary Changes to Education System: Mohinder Bhagat*

*Cabinet Minister Attends Mega PTM in Jalandhar*

*Announces Rs 1.20 Crore for Science and Mathematics Labs, Sports Stadium at School of Eminence, Bhargav Nagar*

Chandigarh/Jalandhar, October 9:Punjab Horticulture, Freedom Fighters and Defence Services Welfare Minister Mohinder Bhagat today attended the Mega Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM) at the Government School of Eminence, Bhargav Nagar, Jalandhar and addressed a large gathering of parents and teachers. He highlighted the Punjab Government’s efforts to improve the education system and the quality of education in government schools.

The Cabinet Minister said several important initiatives had been undertaken to modernise educational institutions and ensure that students in government schools also receive facilities comparable to those available in convent schools. He congratulated the Education Department for organising Mega PTMs in more than 1,300 government schools across the district, where parents and teachers held meaningful discussions to ensure the academic success of students.

District Education Officer Gurinderjit Kaur, Punjab Sikhiya Kranti Coordinator Sanjeev Bhagat, Councillor Raj Kumar Raju and Deputy District Education Officer Rajiv Joshi were also present on the occasion.

Mr Bhagat also announced a grant of Rs 1.20 crore for the school. Of this amount, Rs 70 lakh will be spent on constructing science and mathematics laboratories after demolishing the old building, while Rs 50 lakh will be utilised for the development of the sports stadium. He said the state-of-the-art laboratories and sports stadium would greatly benefit students by providing them with better facilities for learning and sports.

Mr Bhagat said the initiative provides a valuable platform for parents and teachers to engage in meaningful discussions about students’ overall development, particularly their academic progress. He said parents visiting government schools were getting an opportunity to see the improved facilities being provided to students. Through the programme, parents were informed about their children’s curriculum and extracurricular activities. They were also given suggestions to help improve their children’s academic performance.

During the event, the Cabinet Minister distributed appreciation certificates to students who had secured more than 95 per cent marks in examinations and achieved other significant academic milestones. Members of the School Management Committees were also honoured with appreciation certificates for their dedication and efforts towards the development of their respective schools.

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*PUNJAB WATER SUPPLY & SANITATION DEPT ORGANISES TRAINING PROGRAMME ON ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARDS*

*TRAINING AIMS TO STRENGTHEN FIELD FUNCTIONARIES’ CAPACITY FOR EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARDS*

*Chandigarh/SAS Nagar, October 9:*On the directions of Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Minister S. Hardeep Singh Mundian, the Department today organised a training programme on “Environmental Safeguards at Water and Sanitation Project” at the DWSS Head Office, Phase-2, SAS Nagar, to sensitise field functionaries and strengthen their capacity for the effective implementation of environmental safeguards in water supply and sanitation projects.

During the programme, Er. Sarbjit Singh, EE-cum-SES; Dr. Pradeep Sharma, SES and Sh. Sazid Ali, Environment Management Specialist (EMS), delivered presentations on environmental safeguards to be followed at Water and Sanitation project sites.

The presentations covered key aspects of environmental management, including site cleanliness and housekeeping, safe storage and handling of treatment chemicals, waste segregation and disposal, prevention of water and soil pollution, plantation and green belt development, occupational health and safety, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), fire safety, emergency preparedness and environmental safeguards during the construction and operation of surface water projects.

The training programme was attended by Sub-Divisional Engineers (SDEs), Junior Engineers (JEs) and Project Managers associated with Water Treatment Plants and surface water projects. Detailed discussions were held on the observations recorded during inspections conducted by the State Environment Team, environmental compliance issues identified at project sites and the corrective measures required to address the deficiencies.

The participating officers and officials were sensitised to the importance of regular site inspections, proper maintenance of environmental records and photographic evidence, compliance with applicable environmental rules and guidelines and timely implementation of corrective measures to prevent the recurrence of deficiencies.

The programme reinforced the Department’s commitment to promoting environmentally responsible practices, improving environmental compliance and ensuring the sustainable and safe implementation and operation of water supply and sanitation projects across Punjab.

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*Speaker Sandhwan Calls 13th Session of 16th Punjab Vidhan Sabha on 22 October*

Chandigarh, 9 October 2026:Under second proviso to Rule 16 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, the Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan has pleased to call the Punjab Legislative Assembly, which was adjourned sine-die on 10 August, 2026, to meet at 11.00 AM on Thursday, the 22nd October, 2026 in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Hall, Vidhan Bhavan, Chandigarh. The tentative date wise programme is given below.

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*PESCO Chairman Maj. (Dr.) Gurcharan Singh Extends Greetings to Personnel on Corporation’s 48th Raising Day*

*Commends Officers and Employees for Their Sincere and Dedicated Services*

Chandigarh, October 9:Chairman of the Punjab Ex-Servicemen Corporation (PESCO), Maj. (Dr.) Gurcharan Singh (Retd.), has extended his felicitations to all PESCO personnel on the occasion of the Corporation’s 48th Raising Day, being celebrated today, October 10.

In his message, the Chairman complimented all officers and employees for their dedication, sincerity and commitment to the Corporation. He said that through their dedicated efforts and sincere service, PESCO had achieved a high standard of performance and earned recognition and demand from various government departments and institutions.

He appreciated the contributions of all officers, Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and staff to the Corporation’s progress and wished PESCO greater glory and prosperity in the years ahead.

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*"Har Din, Ik Kadam Agge": 21 Lakh Parents Attend Mega PTM Across 19,200 Govt Schools in Punjab*

*Mega PTM goes beyond exam scores to focus on each child's holistic growth: Harjot Singh Bains*

*• Harjot Singh Bains thanks parents for reposing faith in government schools*

*• Officials inspect over 2K schools to ensure smooth conduct of Mega PTM, says Education Minister*

Chandigarh, October 9:In a massive outreach reflecting Punjab's push to transform government schools, nearly 21 lakh parents turned up for the Mega PTM held today across 19,200 government schools in all 23 districts to discuss students’ academic progress, attendance, strengths and areas requiring additional support. The record participation underlines growing parental trust in Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led state government’s education reforms under Punjab Sikhiya Kranti.

Revealing the details of the Mega PTM, Punjab Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains expressed gratitude to parents for reposing trust in government schools and joining the initiative in large numbers. He also congratulated officials of the School Education Department for making it a success.

He further shared that the PTM was held under the theme “Har Din, Ik Kadam Agge” (Every Day, One Step Forward), witnessing around 21 lakh parent visits that reflected active participation of families in their children’s education. Around 2,000 schools were also visited by departmental officials to review arrangements and observe the conduct of the meetings.

Going beyond report cards and exam scores, S. Harjot Singh Bains said that the Mega PTM focused on strengthening the parent-teacher partnership to ensure every child receives timely encouragement, guidance and academic support, with meaningful conversations centred on each child’s overall learning journey and individual needs.

During one-on-one interactions, teachers shared report cards and discussed classroom performance, attendance and learning outcomes, highlighting each student’s strengths and areas needing improvement. Parents were also guided on practical ways to support learning at home and work jointly with teachers to bridge learning gaps, the Education Minister added.

S. Bains said the Mega PTM also served as a platform to sensitise parents about various student-support initiatives being implemented by the School Education Department. He appreciated School Management Committee (SMC) members for their valuable contribution to school development and for strengthening community participation in government schools.

The initiative is part of Punjab Sikhiya Kranti, the state’s flagship programme to improve the quality of school education through active collaboration among teachers, parents and the wider school community.

S. Harjot Bains emphasised that every child learns at a different pace and consistent encouragement at home coupled with targeted academic support at school can significantly improve learning outcomes. The Mega PTM enabled parents to better understand their children’s educational needs and identify practical steps to support their continued progress.

Reiterating the Punjab Government’s commitment to making government schools more inclusive, responsive and learning-focused, he stated, “The central message of the Mega PTM is clear — every child matters, every step forward counts and together, parents and teachers can help every child realise their full potential.”