Chandigarh, August 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Social Security, Women and Child Development and Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur on Tuesday said the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government has placed employment generation, quality education and social equality at the centre of its governance agenda to build a self-reliant and inclusive Punjab.
Addressing the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Dr. Baljit Kaur said the government’s efforts were aimed at creating dignified employment opportunities within the state and reducing the trend of youth migration abroad in search of jobs.
Quoting Punjabi poet Dr. Navtej Bharti, she said the philosophy behind the government’s welfare initiatives was based on recognising the contribution of hardworking people in building society.
The minister said providing employment opportunities to youth has remained one of the biggest challenges before the state government. She added that over the past four years, various initiatives have enabled young people to pursue careers within Punjab while ensuring that all sections of society participate in the state’s development.
Highlighting an example from her constituency, Dr. Baljit Kaur said 25 youths from village Fakarsar have secured employment during the last four years, including 20 candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste community. She said this reflected the government’s focus on ensuring that benefits of its policies reach marginalised communities.
Speaking about educational initiatives, the minister said previous governments had delayed Scheduled Caste scholarships for three years, affecting thousands of students. She claimed that after coming to power, the Mann government restored the scheme and increased the number of beneficiaries by 35 per cent, with more than 10 lakh SC students benefiting from scholarships in the last four years.
Dr. Baljit Kaur also highlighted the recruitment of 10,000 Anganwadi Workers and Helpers, calling it a major step towards women empowerment, particularly in rural areas, by providing sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Appreciating the reforms in government schools, she said Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains had brought significant changes to the education system. She stressed that quality education and employment opportunities were closely linked and essential for social progress.
The minister said government schools in Punjab have witnessed major improvements, enabling children from both economically weaker and affluent families to access better educational facilities.
She added that by focusing on employment generation, education reforms and social justice, the Punjab government was working towards creating a progressive and prosperous Punjab where opportunities are available to every citizen.
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