Disclosing his agenda for developing Punjab, Chief Minister Sardar Charanjit Singh Channi stated that his agenda of the state’s progress focuses on free education and health, to provide better livelihood and Pucca house.Channi was addressing the media during a press conference, organised by media and communication in-charge of Punjab Congress, Pawan Khera, at Punjab Congress headquarters in Chandigarh. Channi was accompanied by Himachal Congress in-charge Rajeev Shukla.Channi said that he comes from a poor family and had lived through poverty. “I understand the problems that a person belonging to the lower class or middle class faces. Therefore, for me it is important to provide free education, free health facilities, better living and a pukka house to all the needy.
Channi said that education is the backbone of a society and a poor person is not able to get admission in private colleges and universities.“We will provide free education in government schools and colleges to all the students belonging to SC category and for availing education in private institutions we will start SC scholarship, BC Scholarship and EWS scholarship for general category students,” he said while adding that professional education will also be encouraged for developing the skills of the youth.Channi said that a university is being built in Sri Chamkaur Sahib at the cost of Rs 500 crore and this university will also have tie-ups with foreign universities. “Moreover, the Punjab Cabinet has already approved to provide interest free loans to the needy students who are willing to study abroad,” he said.“Our government will also provide interest free loans for the startups and within one year of forming the government we will provide 1 lakhs jobs to the unemployed,” said Channi.
Channi said that in just 111 days of his tenure, his government has made petrol and diesel cheaper in the state. Apart from this, power charges, water bills, etc. were waived off and many other important decisions were taken.Channi also emphasized on providing better healthcare facilities to the people of Punjab and said that free health facilities would be provided to the people. “People of Punjab will not have to spend even a penny for admissions, operation as well as for medicines,” he said.Channi added that he had endured poverty and could understand what a ‘Pucca House’ meant for the lower and middle families.“Our government will provide Pucca House to the needy within six months and senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi had recently announced to provide eight cylinders free in a year to women,” he said.Channi also lashed out at the Aam Aadmi Party and said that every fourth candidate of the party is facing FIR.He said that there are around 60 candidates of Shiromani Akali Dal and 44 candidates of AAP against whom criminal cases are registered.While talking about Bhagwant Mann, Channi said that Mann is less educated and it could prove to be fatal for Punjab.