Punjab to Celebrate 7th POSHAN Pakhwada from April 8 to April 22: Dr. Baljit Kaur
Statewide Campaign to Promote Nutrition, Healthy Lifestyles and Malnutrition Eradication During POSHAN Pakhwada
Chandigarh, April 7:Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur is to announce the observance of the 7th POSHAN Pakhwada from April 8 to April 22, 2025, in line with the nationwide initiative to improve nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
Sharing the details, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the fortnight-long campaign will be observed across the state through a series of activities focused on nutrition awareness, community participation, and sustainable practices.
She informed that this year’s POSHAN Pakhwada will have a special focus on improving nutrition during the First 1,000 Days of Life, which is the most critical window for a child’s growth and development. The campaign will also emphasize the popularization of the Beneficiary Module in the POSHAN Tracker to strengthen digital monitoring and delivery of nutrition services, along with the management of malnutrition through the CMAM Module, which supports community-based treatment and care for malnourished children.
In addition, special emphasis will be laid on promoting healthy lifestyles to combat childhood obesity by encouraging balanced diets, physical activity, and healthy habits among children. The fortnight will also include large-scale outreach and sensitization efforts to eliminate malnutrition through public awareness and active community engagement. She added that focused efforts will also be made for diarrhoea management and anaemia eradication through preventive care and early intervention.
Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the government, led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, is committed to the all-round development of women and children. In view of this, the state government is continuously making efforts for their welfare.
Dr. Baljit Kaur further appealed to all stakeholders—Anganwadi Workers, Health Workers, Panchayati Raj Institutions, and local communities—to actively participate in the campaign and ensure its success.
The Minister appealed to everyone to unite in building a Malnutrition-Free Punjab and to ensure a healthier future for our children and mothers.
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Punjab is making significant strides in education revolution: Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond
Education sector receives major budget allocation of ₹17,762 crores from government
Sond inaugurates infrastructure development projects worth ₹79.85 lakhs in six government schools in Khanna
Chandigarh/Khanna, April 7: Punjab Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond on Monday announced that Punjab is undergoing a significant and historic transformation in education as he inaugurated infrastructure development projects worth ₹79.85 lakhs in six government schools in Khanna.
Sond emphasized that education is the foundation of society and highlighted that the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has allocated ₹17,975 crores to the education sector in the 2025-26 budget. This funding will be used to ensure modern, state-of-the-art infrastructure in government schools.
The Cabinet Minister detailed that the Government Middle School in Rahon village, a boundary wall was constructed at a cost of ₹19 lakhs, and an additional ₹1 lakh was spent on completing bathrooms and repair work. At the Government Senior Secondary School in Lalheri, two large classrooms and two modern labs were built, each costing ₹15.02 lakhs. New girls' bathrooms were also added at a cost of ₹1.5 lakhs. The Government Primary School in Malkpur village received ₹1.66 lakhs for bathroom construction. At the Government Middle School in Ratanheri, three large classrooms were built for ₹18.50 lakhs. The Government Middle School in Goh village had a new boundary wall constructed for ₹4.75 lakhs and bathrooms built at a cost of ₹1.40 lakhs. The Government Primary School in Goh village also received a boundary wall at a cost of ₹2 lakhs.
Sond noted that government schools are now outperforming private convent schools and have become the preferred choice for parents. He also spoke that the government has regularized 12,500 temporary teachers and initiated the recruitment of 20,000 new teachers. Under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann's leadership, the Punjab Government has given 56,000 jobs for the youth, averaging 18,000 jobs per year.
The Cabinet Minister highlighted that the needs of these schools are being prioritized. Students are excelling not only in academics but also in sports and cultural competitions. He mentioned that by establishing Schools of Eminence, the Punjab Government is taking significant steps to support the student community, providing relief to both students and their parents.
Sond also emphasized that under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, a new phase of development has begun with a series of inaugurations across Punjab, which will continue in the coming days.
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Mann Government’s Punjab Sikhya Kranti’ Pledges Transformation of Every Government School of State: Harpal Singh Cheema
Launches Development Projects Under 'Punjab Sikhya Kranti' in Government Schools of Villages Kamalpur and Mauran as well as in School of Eminence, Dirba
Chandigarh/Dirba/Sangrur, April 7-Under the transformative initiative ‘Punjab Sikhya Kranti’ spearheaded by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab government, Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday inaugurated significant development works in government schools across Dirba constituency. The inauguration took place in the high school of Kamalpur village, the Government Senior Secondary Smart School of Mauran village, and the Comrade Bhim Singh School of Eminence in Dirba. These development projects represent a combined investment of Rs 108.61 lakh, with Rs 41.19 lakh allocated to Kamalpur, Rs 13.65 lakh to Mauran, and Rs 53.77 lakh to Dirba.
During the event, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema highlighted the Mann Government’s commitment to revolutionizing the education sector. He said that the ‘Punjab Sikhya Kranti’ aims to transform all 20,000 government schools in the state, with approximately 12,000 schools already undergoing significant improvements. He said that previous governments had neglected the education sector, but the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab Government has increased the education budget by 57 percent in its very first year.
Finance Minister Cheema also underscored the Government’s efforts to enhance school infrastructure and teacher training. He said that for the first time in Punjab’s history, teachers were being sent abroad for advanced training. “Additionally, the government has also recruited around 20,000 teachers, providing employment opportunities to individuals from ordinary households”, he added.
“These initiatives have yielded remarkable results, with approximately 200 government school students successfully passing the JEE test. To further nurture academic excellence, the Punjab Government has established Schools of Eminence equipped with subject-specific labs, educational parks, separate toilets for boys and girls, transportation facilities, and essential staff such as security guards and sanitation workers”, said Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema.
In addition to educational reforms, the Cabinet Minister, who is also Chairman of Yodh Nashian Virudh Cabinet Sub-Committee, highlighted the state’s efforts to combat drug abuse under the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign. He said that the Government is taking strict action against drug traffickers while ensuring proper treatment and rehabilitation of drug victims. “Measures such as anti-drone systems and new recruitment in the Punjab Home Guard are being implemented to curb drug trafficking along the Pakistan border”, said Cabinet Minister Cheema while adding that these efforts aim to restore Punjab’s vibrant spirit and make it ‘Rangla Punjab’ once again.
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Harjot Singh Bains assails opponents, highlights transformative school reforms
• Education Minister calls for unified support to fulfil the dream of quality education for every child in Punjab
*•It is a fight against private school mafia and powerful negative forces that profited from neglect of Govt education: Bains
Chandigarh/ SAS Nagar, April 7: Launching a scathing attack on opposition leaders, the Punjab Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains, on Monday, slammed their criticism of the Punjab Government’s education reforms as hypocritical and self-serving.
Addressing the inauguration event organised at Government Senior Secondary School, Phase-11 Mohali under “Sikhya Kranti”, the Education Minister said, "Those who neglected government schools for decades are now seems to have problem seeing ‘Padhda Punjab’. When Punjab's education system was failing, they remained silent. Now that our children are thriving, they feel threatened."
S. Harjot Singh Bains underlined the significant improvements made since the Aam Aadmi Party led government took office in the state. He said," We inherited approximately 20,000 government schools in deplorable conditions—without boundary walls, without proper bathrooms, without adequate educational facilities for our children. Today, nearly every government school in Punjab has boundary walls, functional and separate toilets for girls & boys, furniture, drinking water facilities and 90% have WiFi connectivity,” he said, while adding that yet, instead of appreciating this progress, leaders of previous governments question why these developments are being inaugurated.
The Education Minister, while particularly stressing the government's commitment to providing equitable educational opportunities, said that 189 students from government schools have recently cleared JEE Mains, a remarkable achievement that showcasing the effectiveness of our reforms.
"It is a fight against the private school mafia and powerful negative forces that profited from the neglect of government education," said S. Harjot Singh Bains, adding that "The opponents are comfortable when their children attend expensive private schools having security guards and modern facilities, but feel threatened when poor children receive the same quality education."
S. Harjot Singh Bains said that he personally visited over 1200 schools across districts including Ferozepur, Fazilka and Tarn Taran, some multiple times, to ensure proper implementation of all the reforms on ground.
"Being Punjab's Education Minister is not easy, it was previously called the department of protests. But we are committed to our promise that we made to the people who gave 92 seats to AAP under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann", he added.
While acknowledging that completely transforming 20,000 schools serving around 28 lakh students is a long journey, the EM Harjot Singh Bains stressed that significant progress has been made in just three years. "If every child in Punjab receives quality education, wouldn't that benefit us all? Education will thrive, Punjab will thrive and our children will thrive," said the Education Minister, calling for unified support to fulfil the dream of quality education for every child in Punjab.
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Multitude of projects inaugurated under ‘Punjab Sikhya Kranti’ in various schools of Pathankot
· Ensuring quality education system & top notch healthcare services main goal of State Government: Lal Chand Kataruchak
· Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, Chairman Vibhuti Sharma & District President Amit Mintu do honours
Chandigarh/Pathankot, April 7:Under the flagship initiative of ‘Punjab Sikhya Kranti’, the Punjab Government led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and guided by the Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, various events were today organized all through the schools of the district to ensure quality and world level education to the students of the State.
The occasion saw multitude of projects worth lakhs being inaugurated in these schools and dedicated to the public by the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, Chairman Improvement Trust Vibhuti Sharma and District President Aam Aadmi Party Amit Mintu.
The Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak inaugurated projects worth Rs. 4.16 lakh at Government Primary School, Salowal, Rs. 3.20 lakh at Government Primary School Tangosah and Rs. 13.65 Lakh at Government Senior Secondary School Tangosah in Bhoa Assembly constituency as part of the ‘Sikhya Kranti, Badalda Punjab’.
Similarly, in Assembly constituency Sujanpur- Halqa Incharge cum District President Aam Aadmi Party Amit Mintu inaugurated projects worth Rs. 9.99 Lakh at Government Primary School Karoli, Rs. 30 lakh at Government Senior Secondary School Manwal, Rs. 18.09 lakh at Government Senior Secondary School Karoli and Rs. 12.5 Lakh at Government Primary School Jhikli Karoli.
Likewise, in Assembly constituency Pathankot- Halqa Incharge Pathankot cum Chairman Improvement Trust Pathankot Vibhuti Sharma inaugurated projects worth Rs. 2 lakh at Government Primary School, Dhangu Road, Pathankot, Rs. 10.85 lakh at Government Primary School, Model Town (Girls), Pathankot and Rs. 22.2 Lakh at Government Senior Secondary School, K.FC. Pathankot.
In his address on the occasion, the Minister said that the main focus of the Punjab Government has always been on providing quality healthcare and educational system which has led to many changes in the government schools of the state. Under the visionary guidance of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, ‘Sikhya Kranti’ has been ushered in throughout Punjab as part of which huge amount has been spent on ensuring robust infrastructure in the schools such as constructing the libraries, Boundary Walls, Toilets, and the Science Labs. He further said that this transformation brought in by the State Government has caused a sea change in the public mindset leading to heavy increase in the enrolment of children in the government schools. This trend of ‘Sikhya Kranti’ would continue in future also, added Mr. Kataruchak.
Among others present on the occasion included District Education Officer Secondary (Pathankot) Rajesh Kumar, District Education Officer (Elementary) Pathankot Kamaljit Kaur, Deputy DEO Secondary Amandeep Kaur, Deputy DEO Elementary D.G. Singh, District President B.C. Wing Pathankot Naresh Kumar, Block President Pawan Kumar Fauji, Vijay Kataruchak, Khushbir Katal, Block President Kuldeep Bhatwan, and Block President Jung Bahadur.
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Punjab Sikhya Kranti – Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian inaugurates infrastructure development projects in government schools
Punjab is becoming a frontrunner in field of education
Education has power to shape young minds into doctors, scholars, engineers, and civil servants - Mundian
Chandigarh/Ludhiana, April 7 -Punjab Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian stated that Punjab has been reaching new heights in the education sector since the AAP government took office three years ago.
The Punjab government is inaugurating new infrastructure projects worth Rs 2,000 Cr in 12,000 Government schools across the state. Today, Cabinet Minister Cabinet Minister Mundian inaugurated the works worth Rs 2 Cr in schools in Sahnewal and Dakha.
Describing today as a red-letter day in Punjab's history, aimed at ensuring a bright future for students, the Cabinet Minister inaugurated a number of infrastructure development projects in various government schools in Sahnewal. These projects include new smart classrooms, science labs, boundary walls, and separate toilets for girls and boys, as well as sports grounds. He emphasized that the government schools are now surpassing private and elite institutions, making them the preferred choice for many parents. The government schools are undergoing a complete transformation, with a significant portion of the budget allocated to education, as highlighted by the Finance Minister recently.
Mundian underscored the transformative power of education, calling it the foundation of society. He stated that education has the ability to shape young minds into doctors, scholars, engineers, civil servants, and leaders.
The Minister also urged parents and teachers to nurture the potential of every child, emphasizing the critical role of education in building a prosperous society. He highlighted the initiative of Punjab Sikhya Kranti, launched by the Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann., as a commendable effort to ensure a bright future for students.
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PUNJAB POLICE CONDUCTS SEARCH OPERATION AT 225 BUS STANDS ACROSS STATE
— YUDH NASHIAN VIRUDH CONTINUES AS POLICE ARREST 38 DRUG SMUGGLERS ON DAY 38; RECOVERS 2.2KG HEROIN, 1.8KG OPIUM
— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO MAKING PUNJAB A DRUG-FREE STATE AS PER DIRECTIONS OF CM BHAGWANT SINGH MANN
— POLICE TEAMS ALSO CONDUCT SEARCHES AT JAILS IN SIX DISTRICTS: SPL DGP ARPIT SHUKLA
CHANDIGARH, April 7:With the ongoing war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state entered 38th day, Punjab Police on Monday conducted a cordon and search operation (CASO) at 225 Bus Stands across the state.
The operation was carried out in all the 28 Police districts on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav.
Special Director General of Police (Special DGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla, who was personally monitoring this state-level operation, said that all the CPs/SSPs were asked to ensure heavy deployment of police force under the supervision of Superintendent of Police (SP) rank officers to make this operation successful.
He said that around 2947 people were checked during the operation conducted at around 225 bus stands in the state.
Apart from this, Police teams have continued its drive against drugs and conducted raids at 466 locations on Monday leading to the arrest of 38 drug smugglers after registration of 31 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 5239 within 38 days.
The Special DGP said that the raids have resulted in recovery of 2.2 kg heroin, 1.8 kg opium and Rs 17600 drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.
He informed that over 200 Police teams, comprising over 1200 police personnel, under the supervision of 87 gazetted officers have conducted raids across the state and checked as many as 481 suspicious persons during the day long operation.
He said that Punjab Police has devised a comprehensive strategy and such operations will be continued till the scourge of drugs eradicated from the state.
The Special DGP said that with the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of ‘De-addiction’ has convinced one person to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment.
Meanwhile, Punjab Police has also carried out search operation at different jails in six districts— Commissionerate Amritsar, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Batala, Amritsar Rural and Tarn Taran— to check any illegal activities in the jail. “Our Police teams have thoroughly searched every nook and corner including barracks, kitchen and toilets in the jail complex,” said Special DGP Arpit Shukla.