Chandigarh, July 22: The Haryana Government has approved a series of major initiatives to further strengthen child protection, healthcare and rehabilitation services under Mission Vatsalya. The State-Level Monitoring Committee, chaired by Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi, approved the proposal to extend Ayushman Bharat health coverage to all eligible children residing in these institutions. The committee also reviewed and approved measures to strengthen specialised healthcare, bridge education, vocational training, adoption services, sports activities, legal support, institutional infrastructure and inter-departmental coordination to ensure holistic care, protection and rehabilitation of vulnerable children across Haryana.

Chairing the meeting, the Chief Secretary said Mission Vatsalya is creating a comprehensive child protection ecosystem that integrates healthcare, education, counselling, rehabilitation, legal assistance and social reintegration for children in need of care and protection as well as children in conflict with law. He emphasised coordinated action among all stakeholder departments to ensure timely delivery of child welfare services.

To further strengthen healthcare services, the committee decided that Ayushman Bharat cards would be issued to all eligible children residing in Child Care Institutions, ensuring timely access to quality healthcare and financial protection for medical treatment. The committee also decided that specialised quarterly health check-ups under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) will be conducted in all Child Care Institutions, covering dental, ENT, skin and other specialised medical interventions. The Health Department was directed to ensure expeditious preparation of Medical Examination Reports (MERs) to facilitate timely adoption of children, particularly those with special needs.

The committee also emphasised timely issuance of Non-Claimant Certificates (NCCs) by the police and regular updating of child-related information on the Mission Vatsalya portal to expedite adoption procedures and improve monitoring of children requiring care and protection.

Recognising education as an essential pillar of rehabilitation, the committee reviewed measures to strengthen bridge education in Observation Homes, Special Homes and Places of Safety by ensuring the availability of qualified teachers. It also decided to expand skill development and vocational training programmes to equip children with employable skills and improve their future livelihood opportunities. Vocational courses, including CCTV repair and tailoring, are already being conducted for children in institutional care.

A key proposal discussed during the meeting was to collaborate with the State Institute of Mental Health, Haryana, for deploying psychologists in Child Care Institutions across the state. The committee also reviewed measures to strengthen the functioning of Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPUs) by ensuring continuity of trained Child Welfare Police Officers and improving support for tracing families of children belonging to other districts and states. It also stressed better coordination among the Home Department, Women and Child Development Department, Police and other agencies for effective implementation of child protection laws.

To strengthen rehabilitation and positive engagement of children in Child Care Institutions, structured and regular sports and physical activities shall also be organised to channelize their energy constructively and promote physical fitness, discipline, teamwork, and emotional well-being.

Reviewing infrastructure development, the Chief Secretary took stock of the Integrated Child Care Complex being developed at Hisar, comprising an Observation Home, Special Home and Place of Safety with a capacity of 50 children in each unit. The committee also reviewed staffing requirements for the new complex and existing institutions to ensure quality care and efficient management.

The meeting further emphasised strengthening free legal aid for children in conflict with law and improving coordination between the Prosecution Department and District Child Protection Units to ensure timely legal assistance and better monitoring of POCSO cases across the state.

Commissioner & Secretary, Women & Child Development Department, Sh. Shekhar Vidyarthi informed that Haryana has established a robust institutional framework under Mission Vatsalya with 22 Child Welfare Committees, 22 Juvenile Justice Boards, 56 Child Care Institutions for Children in Need of Care and Protection and seven institutions for Children in Conflict with Law. The state has also organised 641 awareness camps on Mission Vatsalya and the POCSO Act till June 2026, benefiting 37,136 children through awareness programmes on child rights, legal safeguards, online safety and prevention of abuse.

Director, Women & Child Development Department, Dr. Priyanka Soni highlighted the progress of Haryana’s flagship child welfare initiatives, including the Harihar Policy, which provides employment, educational and financial support to eligible abandoned and surrendered children after they attain adulthood, and the Mukhya Mantri Bal Sewa Yojana, which continues to support children who lost parents or guardians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Chief Secretary reiterated the Haryana Government’s commitment to building a responsive, inclusive and child-centric protection system by strengthening healthcare, education, counselling, legal support, skill development and institutional infrastructure so that every vulnerable child receives the care, protection and opportunities needed for a secure and dignified future.

Chandigarh , July 22- The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has intensified flood mitigation works on Sheetla Mata Road by strengthening the drainage network and expediting restoration works to improve stormwater evacuation along one of the city’s most waterlogging-prone corridors.

Divulging more details in this regard, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)  GMDA, Sh.  P.C. Meena said that the 900-metre-long surface drain from Sheetla Mata Mandir towards Bhagat Singh Chowk, located on the right-hand side in front of the temple, has been completely desilted and restored. The drain, which was heavily choked with silt, debris and other obstructions, has now been made fully functional. It has been connected with the master stormwater drain, enabling faster and more efficient discharge of rainwater.

He further said that the master stormwater drain on the left-hand side of the road leading towards Sheetla Mata Mandir was full of silt and completely blocked. It has been made operational after the removal of accumulated silt, debris and other blockages that were restricting the free flow of stormwater. To further strengthen the drainage network here, new road gullies are being constructed at identified locations to create additional inlet points, allowing rainwater from the carriageway to enter the drainage system directly for quicker runoff.

Sh. P.C. Meena added that the GMDA is also undertaking drainage strengthening works along the nearly 800-metre stretch between Atul Kataria Chowk and Sheetla Mata Mandir. Earlier cleaning of this section was hampered due to numerous unauthorised sewer connections from Rajeev Nagar and other nearby habitation, which has resulted in discharging sewage into the stormwater drain. Due to heavy silt deposit in the storm water drain, the carrying capacity of the master drain was substantially reduced . Now, GMDA teams are disconnecting these illegal sewer connections, carrying out desilting operations and restoring the surface drain to improve connectivity with the master stormwater drainage network and ensure efficient stormwater channelisation.

Talking about the measures being taken to minimise waterlogging along Sheetla Mata Road, he said that to provide immediate relief during the ongoing monsoon season, two tractor-mounted pump sets have been deployed at the site for rapid evacuation of accumulated rainwater and to prevent prolonged waterlogging. The remaining drainage restoration works are being taken up on priority and are expected to further improve the stormwater carrying capacity of the Sheetla Mata Road drainage network. This will help in solving the recurring waterlogging problem along this important road stretch.

Chandigarh, July  22

The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC), under the chairmanship of Justice Lalit Batra, held a comprehensive review meeting with senior officers of the Women & Child Development Department, Haryana, at the Commission’s office in Sector-33, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. The meeting aimed to review the functioning of Child Care Institutions (CCIs), assess compliance on the agenda points shared earlier by the Commission, and further strengthen the protection of children’s rights across the State.

The agenda for the meeting had been circulated by the Haryana Human Rights Commission in advance, on the basis of which the Department presented a detailed compliance report on each agenda point.

The meeting was attended on behalf of the Haryana Human Rights Commission by Sh. Kuldip Jain, Member (Judicial), Sh. Deep Bhatia, Member, Sh. Ravi Kumar Sondhi, Registrar (Law & Legal), Sh. Sanjay Kumar Khanduja, Registrar (Judicial), Dr. Puneet Arora, Assistant Registrar; Ms. Simmi Nayyar and Ms.SanyaSapra.

Representing the Women & Child Development Department, Haryana were Sh. Shekhar Vidyarthi , Commissioner  & Secretary, Dr Priyanka Soni, , Director; Smt. Rajbala Katariya, Joint Director; and Dr. Preeti, Programme Manager.

The Department made a detailed presentation on the action taken and compliance with each agenda item.

Budgetary Support and Maintenance Grants

During the meeting, Justice Lalit Batra, Chairperson of the Commission, highlighted a major concern repeatedly raised during inspections of Child Care Institutions across various districts. He observed that whenever he or Members of the Commission visit Child Care Institutions, one of the common grievances voiced by almost every institution is the delay in receiving maintenance grants, which adversely affects the care of children and the smooth functioning of the institutions.

Responding to the concern, Sh. Shekhar Vidyarthi, Commissioner  & Secretary, Women & Child Development Department, clarified that grants are being released to Child Care Institutions under Mission Vatsalya in accordance with the financial norms prescribed by the Government of India. At present, a maintenance grant of ₹3,000 per child per month is being provided, while a proposal has also been submitted to the Government of India for an enhancement of ₹1,000 per child per month for Government Child Care Institutions.

Dr. Priyanka Soni, Director, Women & Child Development Department, informed the Commission that the revised financial norms under Mission Vatsalya are expected to be notified by September 2026. She further assured the Commission that each pending case relating to Child Care Institutions would be reviewed individually and every possible effort would be made to remove administrative and technical bottlenecks so that eligible institutions receive grants at the earliest.

Inspection Mechanism

The Department informed the Commission that regular inspections are being conducted by the State and District Level Inspection Committees constituted under the Juvenile Justice(Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. Recently, inspections were carried out in Child Care Institutions located in Nuh, Rewari, Ambala, Karnal, Sonipat and Panipat, following which compliance reports were prepared and are being regularly monitored. The Haryana Human Rights Commission is a member of the State Level Inspection Committee and is informed in advance whenever State-level inspections are scheduled.

Infrastructure and Human Resources

Responding to a query raised by Sh. Kuldip Jain, Member (Judicial), the Department informed that 63 Child Care Institutions are presently functional across the State. These institutions have appointed Superintendents, Counsellors, Case Workers, Educators, Medical Personnel and other support staff in accordance with the norms prescribed under Mission Vatsalya. Financial assistance is also being provided for infrastructure upgradation and maintenance.

Identity Documents and After Care

During the meeting, Sh. Deep Bhatia, Member, emphasized that every child residing in Child Care Institutions should necessarily possess an Aadhaar Card, Birth Certificate and Ayushman Bharat Card. He stated that these documents are essential for ensuring that children receive timely benefits under various Central and State Government welfare schemes. He further observed that maintaining updated records would also enable the Government to formulate more effective policies and programmes for children’s welfare.

Sh. Deep Bhatia informed the meeting that similar directions had recently been issued by him during the inspection of SOS Children’s Village, Faridabad.

In response, the Department informed that Aadhaar Cards, Birth Certificates and Ayushman Bharat Cards have already been prepared for the majority of children, while Aadhaar enrolment is initiated immediately after a child’s admission into a Child Care Institution. The Department further stated that eligible young adults are being provided assistance for higher education, skill development and rehabilitation under the After Care Programme.

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support

The Department informed that Counsellors have been appointed in District Child Protection Units as well as Child Care Institutions. Specialized mental health services are provided through Civil Hospitals wherever required, while regular capacity-building programmes for Counsellors are being conducted in collaboration with national institutions.

Education, Skill Development and Rehabilitation

The Department stated that all eligible Children in Need of Care and Protection have been enrolled in schools. Children are also being provided vocational training through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), opportunities for open and distance learning, as well as regular life skills, yoga and rehabilitation programmes.

Healthcare, Nutrition and Hygiene

The Commission was informed that children undergo periodic health check-ups, specialist medical camps and health screening under the RashtriyaBalSwasthyaKaryakram (RBSK). Hygiene and nutrition standards are regularly monitored in all institutions, while financial assistance has also been provided for sanitation, plantation and deep-cleaning initiatives.

During the meeting, the Haryana Human Rights Commission offered several suggestions for further strengthening child protection mechanisms, enhancing institutional transparency and improving the quality of care, rehabilitation and welfare services in Child Care Institutions.

The meeting concluded with a collective resolve that the Haryana Human Rights Commission and the Women & Child Development Department would continue to work in close coordination to safeguard the rights of children and women, strengthen institutional mechanisms and promote the welfare, dignity and well-being of every child in the State.

Chandigarh, July 22-  Under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) campaign in Haryana, enumeration forms have so far been distributed to 2,06,54,668 (99.99 percent) voters. Out of these, 1,72,28,926 (83.41 percent) enumeration forms have also been digitised/uploaded by the Booth Level Officers (BLOs). The remaining voters have only two days left to submit their duly filled enumeration forms to the concerned BLOs.

Divulging more details in this regard, Chief Electoral Officer, Haryana, Sh. A. Sreenivas, informed that as per the instructions of the Election Commission of India, two copies of the enumeration form have been provided to every voter. After filling in the required details and getting it signed by the voter or any family member, one copy has to be submitted to the BLO, while the second copy bearing the BLO’s signature is to be retained by the voter as a receipt.

He said that only the names of those voters whose signed enumeration forms are received by the BLOs will be included in the draft electoral roll-2026, to be published on July 31, 2026. If a voter’s enumeration form is not received by the BLO, his/her name will not be included in the draft electoral roll.

The Chief Electoral Officer further said that voters can also fill their enumeration forms online through the Election Commission of India’s portal, voters.eci.gov.in. He also appealed to all recognised national and state political parties in Haryana to create awareness among voters through their Booth Level Agents-2 (BLA-2) and extend cooperation in getting the enumeration forms filled and submitted to the BLOs as per the Commission’s guidelines.

He informed that during the Special Intensive Revision process, voters whose details are found inconsistent while matching with the previous electoral roll will be required to provide necessary documents to the BLOs after July 31, 2026.

The Chief Electoral Officer also clarified that voters who are unable to submit their enumeration forms to the BLOs within the stipulated period can apply for inclusion of their names again in the electoral roll by filling Form-6 along with the required documents between July 31 and August 30, 2026.

CHANDIGARH, July 20:

Punjab has introduced an internationally accepted drug de-addiction treatment known as Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT) for people with severe opioid dependence. The introduction of methadone marks a significant step in the state’s treatment-focused approach to tackling drug addiction.

Conventional treatment has largely relied on Buprenorphine-based Opioid Substitution Therapy through the state’s more than 500 OOAT centres, which involves replacing harmful opioids with regulated medication to treat addiction, and abstinence-based rehabilitation. The introduction of MMT provides an additional treatment option for patients with long-term opioid dependence who have not responded adequately to existing therapies.

Six dedicated methadone clinics are now operational across Punjab at Government Medical College, Faridkot; Civil Hospital, Ludhiana; Government Medical College, Patiala; and district hospitals in Gurdaspur, Mohali and Jalandhar. The state also plans to establish six more MMT centres in the coming months, taking the total number of dedicated facilities to 12.

On this, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh said the expansion of methadone facilities is part of the state’s anti-drug campaign, Yudh Nashean Virudh, which places a strong emphasis on rehabilitation, particularly for people with opioid dependence who are at a high risk of relapse. “Methadone Maintenance Therapy, implemented in accordance with the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), provides an effective treatment option for people with long-term opioid dependence. The comprehensive approach would improve recovery outcomes and help patients successfully reintegrate with their families and society,” he added.

The newly established clinics will function as specialised outpatient facilities where patients will receive supervised methadone therapy along with psychological counselling, psychiatric consultation, relapse prevention services, family counselling and regular follow-up.

Patients will have to visit the clinic daily to receive their prescribed dose under medical supervision. The daily doses are administered under medical supervision to prevent misuse and ensure adherence to treatment.

*What is Methadone Therapy?*

Methadone is an evidence-based treatment for people with opioid use disorder, like those addicted to heroin. Methadone is included in the World Health Organization’s Model List of Essential Medicines for treatment of opioid use disorders. It is prescribed and administered under the supervision of trained medical professionals as part of a comprehensive treatment programme.

Methadone works by binding with the same opioid receptors in the brain as heroin and other opioids. Depending on the prescribed dose, it controls cravings, prevents withdrawal symptoms, and produces opioid tolerance which stops one from getting an opioid-related ‘high’. This enables patients to stabilise their health and engage more effectively in treatment, work, and family life.

Over time, the methadone dose may be tapered based on clinical assessment and recovery goals. Since the patients ingest the medicine daily at a clinic under supervision, the risk of diversion or misuse of the dose is substantially low as compared to take-home prescriptions.

Because methadone is a long-acting medication, a single daily dose is usually sufficient to control withdrawal symptoms and cravings for approximately 24 hours, helping patients maintain stability throughout the day.

CHANDIGARH, July 20:

          As the decisive ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign completed six months, Punjab Police has arrested 50,930 individuals including gangsters and criminals associated with them after conducting 96,964 raids across the state since the launch of the campaign.

          Pertinently, the “Gangstran Te Vaar”— a decisive war to make Punjab a gangster-free state was launched by the Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on January 20, 2026. Police teams from all the districts in coordination with Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) Punjab have been conducting raids at the identified and mapped locations linked to associates of gangsters.

          Special DGP Law and Order Praveen Sinha said that police teams have recovered 913 weapons along with 2,475 live cartridges and 293 magazines, 229 sharp-edged weapons and 15 hand grenades from the possession of arrested individuals.

          Apart from this, preventive action has been initiated against 23,527 persons, whereas, 18,367 persons were verified and released after questioning, he said, while adding that Police teams have also arrested 1,386 proclaimed offenders (POs) since the campaign was launched.

          On Day 181, Police teams arrested 414 individuals after conducting 590 raids, while, preventive action has been taken against 231 persons and arrested 10 proclaimed offenders (POs).

 The Special DGP said that the ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign will continue with same vigor.

          People can anonymously report information related to wanted criminals and gangsters, and also share tips on crime and criminal activity, through the Anti Gangster Helpline number 93946-93946.

          Meanwhile, Police teams have continued its drive against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” for 506th day with 87 drug smugglers arrested on Monday and recovered 673 grams heroin, 1200 intoxicant tablets/capsules and Rs 9170 drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 73,988 in just 506 days. As part of De-addiction, the Punjab Police has convinced 18 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

Chandigarh/ Sunam, July 20:

Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Aman Arora today said that the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is making continuous efforts to create a progressive and employment-friendly ecosystem across the state. He was addressing the gathering at the Mega Job Fair organised in Sunam.

The first Mega Job Fair for the Sangrur, Malerkotla and Barnala cluster was jointly organised by the Department of Industries and the Department of Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training. Candidates between 18 and 50 years of age participated in the event and secured employment opportunities offering monthly salaries ranging from Rs 12,000 to Rs 42,000, depending on their qualifications and experience.

A total of 61 leading companies from across the country and the state participated in the fair, while 2,129 job seekers attended. During the event, 562 candidates were selected for employment, while 618 candidates were shortlisted by various companies for further recruitment. Letters of Intent (LoIs) were also issued to selected candidates on the spot.

The Cabinet Minister said that over the past four and a half years, the Punjab Government has provided nearly 70,000 government jobs to deserving youth in a completely transparent manner, without any bribery or political recommendations.

He added that government jobs alone cannot provide employment to every young person. Therefore, it is essential to create an ecosystem in which private industries and companies can also generate large-scale employment opportunities for the youth.

The Department of Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training and the Department of Industries are working together as a bridge between employers and job seekers by connecting companies with skilled youth. Some of the major companies participating in the fair included Sonalika, Mahindra Tractors, KRBL, Avani, A.P. Organics, Max, Nahar Spinning, and several other reputed industrial units.

The fair offered employment opportunities to candidates with a wide range of educational and technical qualifications, including 10th and 12th pass, ITI (Boiler, Electrical and Mechanical trades), B.Sc. (Non-Medical), B.Com., graduates, diploma holders (Mechanical and Electrical), and CNC-certified candidates.

Responding to a media query on developing an IT hub in Punjab on the lines of Bengaluru and Hyderabad, Mr. Aman Arora said, “Mohali already has a well-established and thriving IT hub. Besides this, thousands of young people are employed in the IT and allied sectors in major cities such as Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jalandhar. Young people should have the freedom to pursue better employment opportunities wherever they are available.”

On the occasion, Cabinet Minister Aman Arora visited the counters of all participating companies and interacted with company representatives as well as job seekers.

Among those present were Amrit Singh, IAS, Director, Department of Employment Generation and Training; Poonamdeep Kaur, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur; Ankur Mahindroo, Additional Deputy Commissioner;  Gagandeep Singh, SDM, Sunam; Mukesh Juneja, Chairman, Market Committee, Sunam; Yashpal Mangla, Media Advisor to the Cabinet Minister, along with officers from various departments, public representatives, dignitaries, and a large number of youth.

Chandigarh, 20 July 2026:

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing drive against corruption in the state, has apprehended Assistant Sub Inspector(ASI) Jagjiwan Singh posted at Koomkalan Police Station, Ludhiana red handed while accepting a bribe of Rs. 10,000/-.

Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson of the state VB said the above-mentioned accused has been arrested based on a complaint lodged by a resident of Surjit Colony, Rahon Road, Ludhiana on Anti- Corruption Action Line portal.

He informed that a case had been registered against complainant’s relative at  Koomkalan, Police Station Ludhiana. ASI Jagjiwan Singh was the investigation officer of this case. When the complainant met the accused ASI regarding this case, accused ASI demanded and received bribe of Rs.10,000/- to help complainant’s relative to get bail in this case. In this connection, accused ASI further called the complainant and demanded additional bribe of Rs. 10,000/-. Complainant recorded the entire conversation regarding demanding bribe.

Unwilling to pay the illegal gratification, complainant approached the VB range Ludhiana. Acting on his complaint, the VB team laid a trap during which the accused ASI was arrested red handed while accepting bribe money of Rs 10,000/- from the complainant in presence of two official witnesses.

In this regard, a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered against the accused at VB police station Ludhiana and further investigation into this case is under progress.

Chandigarh/Nurpur Bedi, July 20

Punjab Water Resources and Soil & Water Conservation Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal today launched the phased implementation of an ambitious lift irrigation scheme aimed at providing irrigation facilities to villages in the Nurpur Bedi block. The project, inaugurated at Village Chhajja, has an estimated cost of Rs.650 crore.

Addressing the large gathering of residents from various villages of the Nurpur Bedi block, the Cabinet Minister said that the villages in the region had remained deprived of adequate irrigation facilities for agriculture since Independence. To address this longstanding issue, four possible options were examined, including sourcing water from the Nangal Reservoir and the Sutlej River, drawing water from the crossings of the ASHC and NHC canals and constructing dams across choes and rivers to conserve rainwater.

The Cabinet Minister said that under this plan, clusters comprising eight to 14 villages are being formed to develop small-scale lift irrigation schemes and ensure water supply according to the requirements of farmers. In addition, plans have been prepared to construct check dams across choes and rivers to conserve rainwater and supply it to agricultural fields through gravity flow.

He said that the project would also help channelise the Swan River, protect nearby villages from flooding and conserve substantial quantities of water. The stored water would subsequently be utilised for irrigation, providing a major boost to agriculture and reducing dependence on groundwater.

The Cabinet Minister said that the most suitable approach for providing irrigation facilities to 102 villages would be to implement lift irrigation schemes based on Sutlej water along with the construction of dams on the Swan River.

Sh. Goyal further said that the project has an estimated cost of Rs.650 crore. As part of the first phase, lift irrigation facilities have already been initiated for nine villages covering an area of 2,785 acres. In the subsequent phases, irrigation facilities would be extended to the remaining villages.

Addressing the gathering, MLA Advocate Dinesh Chadha said that for the first time, the flood-prone Nurpur Bedi region would receive canal water. He said that the Sutlej and seasonal streams had so far caused damage to farmers’ land during floods. However, the lift irrigation scheme would now provide significant relief to farmers and ensure the productive utilisation of water resources.

The MLA said that previous governments had neither conducted the required surveys nor prepared any concrete irrigation plan for the region despite the potential to utilise Sutlej water having existed for a long time.

He also apprised the local residents of the details of the scheme and said that it would prove to be a boon for farmers by ensuring irrigation water supply to all villages of the Nurpur Bedi block.

Chandigarh:

Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee President Rao Narendra Singh strongly condemned the forcible removal of Ladakh-based social activist Sonam Wangchuk from the protest site, calling it a direct assault on democracy and the Constitution. He said that every citizen has the constitutional right to peacefully and democratically express their views. Any attempt to suppress a peaceful movement through the use of force is against the core values of democracy.

Rao Narendra Singh said that Sonam Wangchuk’s fast over the past 19 days is not merely the protest of an individual but has become a symbol of the pain and frustration of millions of students and young people across the country who are deeply concerned about their future due to repeated paper leaks, flaws in the examination system, and the lack of accountability.

He stated that the confidence of the youth is the greatest asset of any democratic nation. It is the government’s responsibility to ensure a fair, transparent, and credible examination system. When paper leaks continue to occur, questions are repeatedly raised over the integrity of examinations, and effective action is not taken against those responsible, it is the hardworking students—who spend years preparing for these examinations—who suffer the most and are ultimately denied justice.

Rao Narendra Singh said that Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has consistently raised the concerns and rights of students and youth. The Congress Party is demanding that the Union Education Minister be held accountable and resign so that public confidence in the examination system can be restored.

He further said that Rahul Gandhi launched the “Students’ Echo” (Chhatron Ki Goonj) campaign from Kota, Rajasthan, to amplify the voices of students and young people. As part of this campaign, he also interacted with students in Uttarakhand on Friday, discussing issues such as paper leaks and creating awareness about the challenges facing the country’s examination system.

Rao Narendra Singh said that the Congress Party has been standing firmly with students and youth for the past one and a half months. The party will continue its struggle until strict action is taken against those responsible for paper leaks and comprehensive, long-term reforms are implemented in the examination system.

Appealing to Sonam Wangchuk to end his hunger strike while keeping his health in mind, Rao Narendra Singh said that Wangchuk’s concern is not merely personal but reflects the aspirations and anxieties of millions of students and young people across the country. He reaffirmed that the Congress Party remains fully committed to protecting the future of the youth, ensuring a transparent examination system, and safeguarding the rights of students.