Punjab Newsline | Dhuri
Punjab is being developed as a leading destination for education, with the state government committed to upgrading government schools and opening new career opportunities for young people, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said on Sunday. Addressing students at a regional youth festival at Desh Bhagat College in Bararwal village of Dhuri constituency, he said a shortage of funds would not be allowed to obstruct the improvement of government schools. He also asserted that more than 70,000 government jobs had been provided to young people purely on merit, following the principle of “No Cash, No Farmaish”—no bribes and no recommendations.
Urging students to concentrate on education and hard work, Mann said the government was working to create multiple career pathways so that young people could pursue their ambitions. He stressed that Punjab needed elected representatives who understood the difficulties and problems faced by ordinary people.
Sharing his experience of the festival on social media platform X, the Chief Minister said watching the enthusiasm and artistic talent of young participants reminded him of his own early days on stage. He advised students to consider participation itself a major achievement, encouraging winners to remain humble and those who did not win to work harder.
Mann said 39 colleges were participating in the festival, with 60 activities being organised across four stages. Students were showcasing their abilities through cultural, artistic and literary competitions. He also acknowledged the contribution of Punjabi University, Patiala, and its Department of Youth Welfare in organising youth festivals over several decades.
The Chief Minister said education should extend beyond classrooms, textbooks and examination results. Its purpose, he said, was to develop confident, independent-thinking and responsible citizens who could contribute meaningfully to society. He added that music, dance, theatre, literature and folk arts helped students build creativity, discipline, teamwork and mutual respect.
Emphasising Punjab’s cultural heritage, Mann said youth festivals played an important role in keeping traditional art forms, folk music, dances and indigenous games alive. He encouraged students to remain connected with their roots while embracing new ideas and opportunities through regional, national and other platforms.
Mann said educational institutions must identify students’ abilities and provide the right environment for their growth so that no talent remained undiscovered due to a lack of encouragement. He called upon young people to dream big, work hard and use their skills constructively.
Describing youth as central to Punjab’s future, the Chief Minister said building a “Rangla Punjab” required knowledge, confidence, creativity and purpose among young people. He added that empowering youth through education, employment and cultural opportunities was essential for the state’s social, economic and cultural progress.
