Inauguration spree in Ludhiana: Schools inaugurated before completion, twice in some cases

What was launched as an education revolution under Punjab’s Sikhya Kranti campaign is now drawing criticism for turning into a publicity-driven ‘inauguration spree’, with growing discontent not just among the public, but from teachers themselves.

Several teachers at government schools, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said they were under immense pressure from authorities to organise inauguration events for projects, where grants were sent by the department. Ironically in this rat race, the inaugurations are also being done in incomplete schools or the works were done with the help of panchayati funds. Moreover, in many schools inaugurations were done twice for the same works.

At Government Senior Secondary Smart School, Kundanpuri, classrooms were inaugurated by MLA Madan Lal Bagga on April 7, 2025. A plaque outside the school reads that classrooms and toilets were “made available to the public" (lok arpit kite gaye). It was observed that the floors of the classrooms had not been laid and work remained unfinished. When questioned, Principal Aradhna Baghla claimed the project was completed, but she refused permission for photography, stating that clearance from the District Education Officer was required.

In another incident at Government Primary and Middle School, Hussainpura, the local MLA inaugurated interlocking floor tiles despite no grants being allocated to the middle school for such work. The annual grant of about Rs 50,000 was spent on other routine and repair works.

A local villager revealed the tiles had been laid a year ago using panchayat funds, not Education Department grants. “Though the tiles were laid under the AAP Government before the panchayat elections, they were only recently inaugurated,” he added.

At Government Primary School, Sarabha Nagar, the newly constructed rooms were inaugurated twice—first in June 2024 by late AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi and again by party candidate Sanjeev Arora ahead of upcoming elections.

A senior teacher at a government school said: “We get a sudden call informing us of a VIP visit for an inauguration or to distribute uniforms. I’ve been in this profession for 15 years, but never have I seen this level of media-oriented micromanagement by any government.”

Ludhiana