Chandigarh February 28 : With the aim of developing reading habits among students of government schools in the state, the Punjab government has released a grant of ₹15 crore for purchasing books for government school libraries. Providing information in this regard, Punjab’s School Education Minister, S. Harjot Singh Bains, stated that the government has allocated ₹5,000 for each primary school, ₹13,000 for each middle school, and ₹15,000 for each high and senior secondary school in the state.
The School Education Minister said that a state-level committee of experts has been formed to prepare a list for the purchase of these books. This committee will carefully review and select books to provide students with high-quality reading materials across various categories, playing a crucial role in their academic and intellectual development. Harjot Singh Bains stated, “My goal is to make Punjab a leading state in the country’s education system. I am personally visiting schools, gathering feedback from students and teachers, and using that information to shape future policies.” He urged teachers to encourage students to read books after their final exams. He also emphasized the importance of books in gaining knowledge about literature, society, heritage, culture, and the world.
Furthermore, he stated that in line with Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann’s vision, the Punjab government is providing grants to modernize existing school libraries and elevate the state’s education system to global standards.
District-wise Grant Distribution
- Amritsar: ₹98.44 lakh
- Barnala: ₹24.99 lakh
- Bathinda: ₹57.64 lakh
- Faridkot: ₹33.33 lakh
- Fatehgarh Sahib: ₹51.22 lakh
- Fazilka: ₹55.26 lakh
- Ferozepur: ₹61.51 lakh
- Gurdaspur: ₹113 lakh
- Hoshiarpur: ₹128.37 lakh
- Jalandhar: ₹107.24 lakh
- Kapurthala: ₹61.44 lakh
- Ludhiana: ₹123.87 lakh
- Malerkotla: ₹21.97 lakh
- Mansa: ₹41.59 lakh
- Moga: ₹50.41 lakh
- Mohali: ₹50.13 lakh
- Muktsar: ₹47.04 lakh
- SBS Nagar: ₹49.99 lakh
- Pathankot: ₹39.83 lakh
- Patiala: ₹97.58 lakh
- Rupnagar: ₹63.97 lakh
- Sangrur: ₹60.36 lakh
- Tarn Taran: ₹62 lakh
Summary: Education Minister Harjot Bains shares promising news for Punjab schools, unveiling key initiatives to enhance education quality and infrastructure.