Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann made an emotional visit to his native village, Satauj, on Friday, where he engaged with residents and local leaders, reminiscing about his roots and outlining his government's key initiatives for development and education.
A Call for Unity and Village Harmony
Interacting with the village panchayat and residents, CM Mann expressed immense pride in his origins. He emphasized that his visit was not for a formal speech but to connect with the people's joys and sorrows. He appealed for unity, stating that factionalism, often fueled by some leaders for personal gain, severely hampers progress. "Unity brings prosperity," Mann asserted, urging villages across Punjab to maintain communal harmony and brotherhood as the bedrock for growth.
Focus on Education: Global Training and Mega PTMs
Speaking to the media, the Chief Minister highlighted revolutionary steps in the education sector. He announced that to elevate the quality of education in government schools, principals and teachers are receiving world-class training in countries like Singapore and Finland. Advanced coaching is also being provided at the prestigious IIM-Ahmedabad.
Mann urged parents to actively participate in the Mega Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTMs) scheduled for December 20 across all 19,000 government schools in the state. He credited his government for pioneering PTMs in government schools, noting enthusiastic parental response. This initiative, he said, helps prepare students for future challenges and allows parents to understand their children's progress through direct interaction with teachers.
Employment and Criticism of Central MGNREGA Changes
On the employment front, CM Mann claimed a transparent and merit-based recruitment drive. Since March 2022, over 58,000 youth have been provided government jobs without any corruption or nepotism, with some families seeing two or three members gain employment.
The Chief Minister also launched a sharp critique against the BJP-led Central government's recent changes to the MGNREGA scheme. He termed the move as one aimed at "ruining the poor and the states." Mann alleged that the Centre has shifted 40% of the funding burden onto states while not releasing funds on time. He said the new restrictions prevent MGNREGA workers from constructing schools, mandis, and drains, which he called a "direct mockery of villages." He accused the Centre of using such tactics to eventually shut down the welfare scheme altogether.
