On Monday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann started the state government’s new education campaign, ‘Sikhya Kranti’, by unveiling a plaque at the School of Eminence in Nawanshahr. He was joined by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia, who is known for improving schools in Delhi.
At the event, Mann said the Punjab government is using Delhi’s successful school model to bring change. “Right now, our focus is on two things — fighting drugs and improving education,” he said.
As part of the 54-day campaign, the government will launch completed projects in nearly 12,000 schools by May 31. These projects cost around ₹2,000 crore. The school in Nawanshahr got a new block worth ₹5.68 crore, named after former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
Manish Sisodia said that providing good education is also part of the plan to make Punjab drug-free. He explained that AAP’s strategy is to take strong action against drug dealers and improve schools so that the youth stay away from drugs.
Mann added that the police are actively arresting drug smugglers and using bulldozers to demolish their properties — even if police officials are involved.
However, a controversy arose at a similar event in Samana. AAP leader and former Health Minister Chetan Singh Jouramajra scolded the school principal and teachers for poor planning. He was upset that many students, teachers, and parents were not present and said the event looked unorganised. He threatened to complain to CM Mann and the Education Minister.
This public criticism upset many teachers. Vikram Dev, head of the Democratic Teachers’ Front Punjab, said that such behaviour was disrespectful and harmful for students to witness. He also claimed that Jouramajra threatened to transfer teachers, which is unfair.
A teacher explained that most students at the school come from poor families. Many parents had to leave early for work. Also, the school received instructions about the event very late, which caused confusion.
Principal Harjot Kaur said that the students who were outside were from a different section involved in a project and that teachers were managing an exhibition, not being careless.
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