Chandigarh, March 25: Punjab has secured the second position in India for the disbursement of scholarships to Scheduled Caste students, Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur stated on Wednesday. During an awareness programme in Mohali, the Minister affirmed that approximately 10 lakh students have successfully pursued their chosen fields of study under the tenure of the Bhagwant Mann government.
The announcement came during a tool kit distribution event at Kalkat Bhawan, where the Minister detailed the expansion of the state’s Free Textbooks and Tool Kits Scheme. Dr. Baljit Kaur declared that the initiative, which is entirely funded by the Punjab Government, will provide essential equipment to 1,506 ITI students. The first phase of this rollout has already covered 630 trainees across 32 government institutes in districts including Ludhiana, Patiala, and SAS Nagar.
The Minister also asserted that persistent state efforts have led to the expansion of the Minority Scholarship Programme. Previously limited to only two districts, the scheme now reaches every district in Punjab. Dr. Baljit Kaur maintained that these efforts are guided by the ideals of Babasaheb Ambedkar and the inclusive teachings of Sikhism, aiming to eliminate caste-based discrimination through economic and educational upliftment.
Principal Secretary V.K. Meena and various local representatives noted that the provision of tool kits is a strategic move to foster entrepreneurship among the youth. The administration affirmed its commitment to ensuring that high-quality education and healthcare remain accessible to the state’s economically weaker sections.
