Chandigarh/Rupnagar, April 8:
Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond, accompanied by former Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia, conducted an inspection of schools and sports grounds in various villages of Rupnagar district on Tuesday. The villages visited included Chairian, Bahrampur, Chandpur, Dakala, Lohgarh Phidde, as well as the government primary school and sports ground in Bahrampur Chaklan.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Sond announced that in an effort to promote a culture of sports and protect the youth from drug addiction, the Punjab Government will construct sports grounds in every village across the state. He shared that approximately 13,000 villages will benefit from this initiative, with sports facilities tailored to local youth demand. The grounds will include provisions for football, cricket, hockey, athletics, volleyball, handball, and other disciplines.
He highlighted that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government has earmarked a budget of ₹979 crore to engage youth in sports and fitness. In addition to sports grounds, gyms will be established in villages to encourage a healthy lifestyle.
Sond emphasized the importance of engaging youth in sports to deter them from social evils. He also mentioned that athletes representing Punjab at national and international levels are recognized with cash rewards and given government job reservations to secure their future.
During the visit to the Government Primary School in Chaklan, Manish Sisodia noted the remarkable transformation the school has undergone over the past three years. He recalled that the school previously had dilapidated infrastructure, lacking basic amenities such as benches, clean drinking water, and functioning toilets. Today, it boasts modern facilities including benches, a sports ground, toilets, high-tech laboratories, a library, and secure boundary walls.
Sisodia reiterated the Punjab Government’s commitment to enhancing the quality of education through the “Punjab Sikhiya Kranti” initiative. He emphasized that the aim is to make Punjab a hub of excellence in education, ensuring a brighter and more prosperous future for the state.
Also present on the occasion were MLA Sri Chamkaur Sahib Dr. Charanjit Singh, MLA Rupnagar Advocate Dinesh Chadha, Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Singh Walia, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Ms. Chandarjyoti Singh, District Planning Board Chairman Harminder Singh Dhahe, and other senior officials.
