In a bid to motivate the economically poor and bright students to excel further in their academic pursuit, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today announced a cash prize of Rs 10,000 each for the top five students who have secured admissions in the local ‘Meritorious School’ this year.The Chief Minister who conducted a surprise visit to the school here this afternoon had detailed interactions with the new entrants who have got admission in the school during the current academic session. Satisfied over the fact that majority of the students in these schools were from rural background, Mr. Badal said that the basic aim of setting up these schools across the state has been fulfilled. He said that in the absence of proper guidance from their parents these students were not able to choose proper career for themselves but now with the support of the state government, these bright students were all set to excel in their lives.
Minutely going into the details of the boarding and lodging facilities being provided to the students, the Chief Minister, who spent nearly an hour in the school, assured that no stone would be left unturned to provide state-of-the art facilities to them. He said that the state government only expects these students to perform their best so that they could soar high in their life. “It is a dream come true for me that you all have taken a first step towards making your career but my ultimate aim is that all of you must excel in life” added Mr. Badal.Later, while having deliberations with the faculty members, the Chief Minister assured them that they would be given every facility during their service in this premier institute. He exhorted the faculty members to give their best services to enable the students for shining in their life. “I urge you to treat these students as your own kids and impart quality education to them so that they can become an ideal citizens of the country” added Mr. Badal.
The Chief Minister further said that realizing the unprecedented success of the ‘Meritorious School’ model in the state, the Punjab government has recently approved the setting of three more such schools at Sangrur, Ferozepur and Gurdaspur districts at a cost of Rs. 30 crore each to provide free quality education and hostel facilities for all the brilliant students of the government schools, who had scored 80% or above marks in the Matriculation examinations. He said that these schools would be established on the pattern of already existing seven such Meritorious Schools at SAS Nagar (Mohali), Patiala, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Talwara (Hoshiarpur). Mr. Badal said that these schools were not only imparting academic education but also providing coaching to students for the competition exams, communication skills and others so as to compete at par with their peers from public and convent schools.
Later, the Chief Minister also visited the Sports school and college in the city and monitored the ongoing development works. He said that in order to give a complete facelift to the existing Sports School and College the state government was developing these institutes as ‘Sports Institute of Jalandhar’ for grooming the budding players of the region to compete in national and international sporting events. Mr. Badal said that these institutes were established to produce word class players from the region but with the passage of time they have lost their sheen. He said that the need of the hour was to develop both the Sports School and College to provide ultra modern sports facilities to the young players. ‘The sole motive is to develop the ‘Sports Institute of Jalandhar’ as a nursery from where world class players can be produced’ added Mr. Badal.
Earlier, the Chief Minister deeply mourned the sad demise of Mrs. Swadesh Chopra, the wife of Editor-in-Chief, Hind Samachar Group, Mr. Vijay Chopra, who passed away few days back after a prolonged illness. Mr. Badal called on the bereaved family here at their residence and shared his heartfelt sympathies with them. He said that it was a huge loss for the entire family especially for Mr. Vijay Chopra who has lost his life partner. He prayed to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and give strength to them to bear this loss in this hour of crisis.The Chief Minister was accompanied by MLAs Mr. Manoranjan Kalia and Bibi Jagir Kaur, former Minister Jathedar Hira Singh Gabria, District Planning Committee Kapurthala Mr. Sarabjeet Singh Makkar, his Special Principal Secretary Dr S Karuna Raju, Commissioner Jalandhar Division Mr. R Venkatratnam and Deputy Commissioner Mr. KK Yadav.