Now, free education for girls from nursery to PhD
CHANDIGARH: Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday announced free education for girls from nursery to the doctorate level in government institutions of Punjab. He was speaking in the Vidhan Sabha.
The CM said the government will introduce free textbooks to all students of government schools, and will introduce preprimary classes (nursery and LKG) in government schools from the next academic session as part of the reforms it has initiated in the state, which will also see free internet service in 13,000 primary schools and all 48 government colleges.
He also announced a pilot project to promote English in government schools from next month, besides opening of five new colleges.
LOKPAL BILL: Amarinder also announced a new Lokpal Bill, which will bring not only the ministers and all bureaucrats under in its ambit, but also the CM
NO SYL CANAL: The CM reiterated his government’s stand on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal, saying he will not allow the canal to be constructed as the state had no surplus water to share with others.
POWER TARIFF: Amarinder also announced a freeze on power tariff for all consumers, including new and existing industries, at ₹5 per unit
TRUCK UNIONS: 134 unions of transporters would cease to exist. The CM said a new law to be introduced soon to give an alternative policy
GOVT CLEARS GST: The government also cleared the Punjab State Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, 2017. The Opposition said it would lead to price rise, while finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal said prices would fall and government earnings would rise
ROAD CONNECTIVITY: Four district towns of Mansa, Muktsar, Fazilka and Ferozepur will be connected with 4 to 6 lane highways. CM to take up issue with the Centre
RAIL LINK: According to the CM, he had written to the Centre for rail connectivity between Patti and Makhu which will connect the Majha region with Malwa and then with Rajasthan
AIR CONNECTIVITY: The state government recently signed an MoU with Union ministry of civil aviation for implementing the regional connectivity scheme – UDAN, connecting four state airports — Bathinda, Ludhiana, Pathankot and Adampur — with Delhi. An aeronautical engineering college at Patiala to be will completed this year. Mohali airport to be expanded.