Punjab Newsline | New Delhi
Punjab Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab Government is committed to ensuring that no deserving child is forced to discontinue education due to financial constraints.
She said the government is implementing various welfare initiatives to empower students belonging to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and improve their access to education.
Dr. Baljit Kaur said that under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for OBCs, ₹5.72 crore was released to 14,320 students during the financial year 2025-26. The assistance, she said, has helped thousands of students overcome financial difficulties and continue their studies without interruption.
For the financial year 2026-27, the state government has proposed an allocation of ₹10 crore to extend the benefits of the scholarship scheme to 25,000 OBC students. The minister said the initiative would provide financial support to more deserving school-level students and enable them to pursue their educational goals.
She further said that during 2025-26 and 2026-27, a total of ₹15.72 crore has been earmarked for 39,320 OBC students under the scheme.
Describing education as a powerful tool for social transformation and empowerment, Dr. Baljit Kaur said equal educational opportunities not only secure a brighter future for children but also contribute to the progress of families, society and the state.
The minister said the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is implementing people-oriented and transparent policies for the welfare of all sections of society.
She added that investment in children's education would lay a strong foundation for an equal, prosperous and progressive Rangla Punjab, where every child gets an opportunity to move forward according to their abilities.
