Govt looks to revive crippled public welfare schemes

In 2025, the Punjab Government will be looking forward to revive crippled public welfare schemes. The departments are also working on specific projects to facilitate public delivery services.

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Bringing healthcare services back on feet

Ending the two-year standoff between the Centre and the state, the rechristening of Aam Admi Clinics as Ayushman Arogya Mandir, has lent a whiff of fresh air to the healthcare sector.

As many as 2,403 Health and Wellness Centres, 466 Primary Health Care Centres and 242 Aam Aadmi Clinics (Urban) are now fully functional. These were virtually dysfunctional after Rs 1,200 crore of the NHM funds were not released since February 2023. The process is underway for appointment of 100 specialists through walk-in interviews. More than 400 doctors are expected to join medical services in the first half of 2025.

Innovation, tech in classroom teaching

Teachers and schoolheads who returned with their learning experience from Principal Academy (Singapore), Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad, and University of Turku, Finland, are transferring their experience to other teachers.

Diverting slightly from the prevailing norm of investing merely on recruiting teachers, the Education Department’s Rejuvenation Plan for 2025 has underlined an overall sectoral development for teaching and non-teaching staff, students and even campus upgradation.

The work has started on providing high speed wi-fi connectivity in schools. Another positive development is the continuous recruitment of campus managers and security staff.

Realising true potential of rural tourism

Nawanpind Sardaran in Gurdaspur and Hansali Farmstay in Fatehgarh Sahib have been awarded as the country’s Best Tourism spots in 2023 and 2024, respectively, by the Union Ministry of Tourism. Realising potential returns from rural tourism, a significantly high number of people (mostly youngsters) are developing their farmstead to attract tourists.

In a new initiative, Chamkaur Sahib is coming up as a major religious tourism venue under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD). The state is also coming up with special tourism initiatives at Anandpur Sahib (Spiritual Tourism), Hussainiwala Border (Culture & Heritage), Mughal Sarai (Doraha), Sarai Lashkari Khan (Khanna), Sarad Khana (Patiala), Rampura Phul Fort, Old Public Health Building (Patiala), Shalimar Garden (Kapurthala) and Quila Sarai (Sultanpur Lodhi).

1,000 sports nurseries in the pipeline

The youngsters are very excited about creation of sports nurseries all over the state, particularly, in rural areas. So far, positive results are being witnessed at 260 spots and as many as 1,000 more nurseries are intended to be developed by the government.

The project underlines providing top-notch coaching, equipment and sports infrastructure for budding athletes. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has initiated the process for ‘Advance Financial Support for Athletes’.

Buoyed with the response to the third edition of ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan’ in 2024, which saw participation from approximately five lakh athletes, the state is working on increasing government support to hone talent.

Tapping alternative energy with 66 solar power plants

In order to tap alternative source of energy, the Punjab Government will have as many as 66 solar power plants by the end of 2025. Each plant will have a capacity of 4 MW. New and Renewable Energy Sources Minister Aman Arora recently handed over a Letter of Award (LoA) to VP Solar Generations Pvt Ltd.

In August, Union Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik told the Rajya Sabha that Punjab’s power generation capacity will increase by 5,061.75 MW over the next five years.