*PUNJAB VIDHAN SABHA SPEAKER URGES FARMERS TO ADOPT ORGANIC FARMING TO SAVE SOIL FERTILITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS*

Chandigarh, 18 August 2026:Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Sardar Kultar Singh Sandhwan today made a fervent appeal to the farming community to shift toward organic farming. He emphasized that safeguarding soil fertility is critical for the survival and well-being of coming generations.

Speaking on the urgent need for agricultural sustainability, Speaker Sandhwan stated that future generations require healthy, fertile land. He urged farmers to completely shun the use of chemical fertilizers and toxic pesticides to protect the environment.

The Speaker expressed deep concern over the commercialization of agriculture. He noted that the blind pursuit of financial gain has led to the excessive use of chemicals and pesticides. This practice has triggered a severe health crisis, causing a rise in deadly diseases like cancer among the common people.

Sardar Sandhwan requested farmers to adopt organic agricultural practices immediately. He emphasized that this transition is vital to protect the health of citizens, halt the spread of life-threatening illnesses, and secure a safe, disease-free future for the next generation.

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*What Decades Of Previous Govts Failed To Do, Bhagwant Mann Govt Has Achieved In Just 4.5 Years: Harjot Singh Bains*

*• Bhagwant Mann Govt Invested ₹2,300 Crore In School Infrastructure, Built 9,000 New Classrooms & Labs, Constructed 13,920 New Toilets: Harjot Singh Bains*

*•Punjab’s Sikhya Kranti Has Transformed Govt Schools With 10,000+ Interactive Panels, 5,012 Advanced Computer Labs And Wi-Fi: Harjot Singh Bains*

*• Punjab Surpasses Kerala To Become No. 1 In School Education: Harjot Singh Bains*

*• 786 Govt School Students Qualify JEE & 2,166 Crack NEET In Just 4 Years: Harjot Singh Bains*

*• 3.64 Lakh Students Shift From Private To Govt Schools Since 2022, Reflecting Growing Public Trust: Harjot Singh Bains*

*• Punjab 1st State To Introduce AI As Core Subject From Class I To XII: Harjot Singh Bains*

CHANDIGARH, August 18:Presenting the four-and-a-half-year status report of school education, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that the Bhagwant Mann government has transformed the Punjab’s education system through a ₹2,300 crore reform programme, with Punjab surpassing Kerala to emerge as No. 1 in school education in the NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog Report 2026-27.

Presenting the status report at a press conference at Punjab Bhawan on Tuesday, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that 3.64 lakh students have shifted from private schools to government schools since 2022, reflecting the growing public trust in government schools. He attributed the transformation to the sustained focus of the state government on strengthening government schools since assuming office in March 2022.

Recalling the AAP’s electoral promise, Minister Harjot Singh Bains pointed out, “AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and CM Bhagwant Singh Mann went to every village and city and asked for one chance to fix Punjab’s government schools. The people of Punjab showed their progressive mindset by giving 92 seats to the AAP on this very narrative. We honoured that trust.”

The Education Minister noted, “The education system we inherited in 2022 was in shambles. A majority of schools had no boundary walls. Over 5,000 schools had no functional toilets. 4 lakh children were forced to sit on the floor. 500 schools had no drinking water. And textbooks arrived 5 months late. This was the reality of Punjab’s education.”

Highlighting the scale of infrastructure transformation, he said, “The Bhagwant Mann government has invested ₹2,300 crore in school infrastructure, averaging ₹15 lakh per school, in the last four and a half years. As a result, 13,920 new toilets have been constructed and every school in the state now has functional toilets. 2 lakh desks have been distributed, ensuring that no child sits on the floor today.”

“Over 9,000 new classrooms and labs have been built, while over 10,000 interactive panels have been installed in classrooms. In addition, 5,012 schools have been upgraded with advanced computer labs. All government schools in Punjab have now been equipped with Wi-Fi and 99.9% schools have boundary walls,” he added.

Pointing to the pace of infrastructure development, Minister Harjot Singh Bains said, “Think about this, 9,000 new classrooms have been constructed by our government. Calculate the days and divide. See how many were built every single day.”

Highlighting the expansion of facilities in government schools, the Minister said, “Government schools now boast sports facilities previously reserved for private institutions, including swimming pools, shooting ranges, basketball and tennis courts, Kabaddi mats, wrestling and boxing rings.”

He said, “The Bhagwant Mann government gave unprecedented exposure to teachers. Over multiple batches, principals were sent to Singapore, primary teachers to Finland and headmasters to IIM Ahmedabad for training.”

Speaking about security and maintenance in schools, Minister Harjot Singh Bains stated, “Ex-Army personnel have been deployed as campus managers in all senior secondary schools. In addition, two security guards have been posted at every senior secondary school with over 500 students. Monthly cleaning funds ranging from ₹3,000 to ₹50,000 are now being provided to schools based on student strength.”

Highlighting the improvement in academic outcomes, the Education Minister said, “786 government school students qualified JEE and 2,166 cracked NEET in the last four years. NEET-UG qualifiers from government schools jumped from just 80 in 2021 to 882 in 2026, a more than 10-fold increase. The year-wise growth shows 437 qualifiers in 2024, 847 in 2025, and 882 this year. 361 students qualified for JEE Mains, with 64 cracking JEE Advanced.”

“Most importantly, 3.64 lakh students have moved from private to government schools since 2022. This proves the growing public trust in government schools,” he pointed out.

Highlighting Punjab’s performance in learning outcomes, Minister Harjot Singh Bains said, “Punjab topped the NITI Aayog Report 2026-27 in classroom learning outcomes, leaving behind Kerala, which was previously considered the gold standard in school education.”

Speaking about innovation in education, the Education Minister said, “Punjab became the first state to introduce Artificial Intelligence as a core subject from Class I to XII. The Business Blasters programme gave 2.30 lakh students real business experience. The government provided ₹29 crore in seed money and students earned ₹3 crore in profit.”

He added that the Bhagwant Mann government has also opened 40 dedicated skill education schools for students who dropped out after Class 10, with the objective of bringing them back into the education system.

Highlighting measures to reduce the financial burden on families, Minister Harjot Singh Bains said, “The cost of education in the country remains a serious issue. In Punjab, we have tried to provide relief to parents. The government has capped annual school fee increases at a maximum of 5 per cent.”

Speaking about accessibility for government school students, the Education Minister noted, “Punjab introduced free bus services for government school students, benefiting over 15,000 students daily across hundreds of schools.”

He also added, “Despite two devastating floods in 2023 and 2025 that damaged over 7,000 schools in Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Ropar, Ferozepur and Fazilka, the government remained committed to education. Working with the World Bank, 500 seriously damaged schools are being restored, with most expected to be completed within six months.”

Emphasising his commitment to taking Punjab’s school education system further, Harjot Singh Bains said, “I have personally visited over 2,000 schools. No district is left. Education is my passion, this is my obsession. 20,000 schools in Punjab and I am on a mission. In 2 years, Punjab will be the first state to say: not one school lacks anything. For us education is top priority.”

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Punjab State Food Commission Chairman Bal Mukand Sharma Highlights Punjab’s Nutrition Gardens & Agri-Export Potential at Global Seminar in Canada

Over 5000 School Nutrition Gardens & Anganwadi Poshan Vatikas Underway in Punjab; Ontario Business Development Minister Neena Tangri Backs Punjab’s Frozen Vegetable Exports

Punjab’s High-Quality Winter Vegetables Have Export Potential to USA, Canada, Japan & Australia: PSFC Chairman

Chandigarh, August 18:Putting Punjab’s agri and nutrition model on the global map, Punjab State Food Commission (PSFC) Chairman Bal Mukand Sharma highlighted the state’s large-scale Nutrition Garden Campaign and the huge export potential of Punjab’s winter vegetables at an international seminar on 'Globalization of Punjab Foods and Nutritional Security' held in Ontario, Canada. He said initiatives like school gardens and Anganwadi Poshan Vatikas are strengthening nutritional security while the winter vegetables have enormous potential for opening new avenues for Punjab’s farmers in global markets.

Ms. Neena Tangri, Minister of Business Development, Government of Ontario, and Chairman, Punjab State Food Commission (PSFC), Sh. Bal Mukand Sharma graced the occasion as Chief Guests.

In his keynote address, Dr. Gurbachan Singh, former Agriculture Commissioner, Government of India, shared his experiences and emphasized giving a fillip to cash crops, commercial crops, and the horticulture sector. He also advised adoption of bio-fortification and increasing micronutrients like Zinc, Iron, and Magnesium in crops including wheat and rice .

Addressing the gathering, PSFC Chairman Sh. Bal Mukand Sharma apprised participants about the ongoing ‘Nutrition Garden Campaign’ in Punjab. Under this initiative, over 5000 schools in the state, with support from the Education Department, are being guided to develop herbal, vegetable, and fruit gardens. The produce from these gardens is also being utilized in mid-day meals.

He further informed that ‘Poshan Vatikas’ are being set up in Anganwadis on the advice of the Food Commission to ensure robust health of children aged 0-3 and 3-6 years, as well as lactating mothers and pregnant women.

In her address, Mrs. Kanchan Sharma, former Assistant Secretary, Punjab School Education Board, and presently Chairperson of Punjab Trade Promotion Council ( PTPC) urged people to strictly adhere to a nutritious diet and reduce salt intake by 1 gram and oil intake by 10 grams daily to maintain good health.

Mr. Sauravdeep, Food Safety Officer, and Mr. Kamaljit Singh Sidhu, Quality Control Expert , advocated for ensuring food quality and improved packaging standards.

Minister Neena Tangri highlighted the ongoing collaboration between the Governments of Ontario and Punjab in food processing, food exports, and vegetables. She recalled that six months ago, a 24-tonne container sent by PAGRO Frozen Foods, Sirhind, Fatehgarh Sahib, carrying frozen fruits, broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, and potato, arrived in Toronto on a trial basis. Due to immense popularity, a repeat order has recently been placed.

Mr. Bal Mukand Sharma further stated that Punjab’s winter vegetables are of unmatched quality. The summer season from April to September naturally neutralizes pests, making the produce suitable for export to markets as far as Indonesia, Philippines, Japan, Canada, USA, and Australia. This, he said, would not only lead to an economic boom for Punjab’s farming community but also bring in valuable foreign exchange.

The seminar was hosted by Mr. Jarnail Singh, President, Global Food Choice.