Schools in Ajnala to get infra overhaul, says minister

Amritsar, January 29

Punjab Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal today said that schools in the border belt of Ajnala will be upgraded and an infrastructural overhaul costing Rs 27.85 crore will be undertaken to strengthen school education in the constituency. Addressing the media, Dhaliwal said that Ajnala, being a border area, was sidelined in terms of development post-independence. “Approval has been given to spend Rs 27.85 crore, out of which the first installment of Rs 7.18 crore has been received by schools in Ajnala. Special focus will be given to the education and health sectors,” he said.

Dhaliwal said that with the first installment received by the constituency, work has started in 167 schools, which include those up to elementary, secondary and senior secondary level, according to their needs. He instructed the school committees and officials not to compromise on the quality of work so that schools in the constituency can be upgraded by making proper use of the money received.

Several schools in Ajnala, which lies in the rural border belt, lack basic amenities like toilets, provision of clean drinking water, classrooms as student strength exceeds the seating capacity. There is also a shortage of teachers in several elementary schools, especially with student strength exceeding 500.