‘Sikhya Kranti’ facelift raises eyebrows

The state government’s much-publicised ‘Sikhya Kranti’ campaign is facing criticism from experts and government school teachers across the district, who allege that routine maintenance and previously completed projects are being rebranded and showcased as new achievements.

Several teachers and sources in the Education Department claimed that many so-called developmental works inaugurated under the campaign were in fact carried out a year or two ago. Some projects were started even during the previous Congress regime and largely funded by the Centrally-sponsored Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). Rather than adding new infrastructure or innovation, what’s being highlighted as progress often involves basic repairs —whitewashing walls, fixing benches or renovating toilets, they added.

At Government Primary School (Girls), Basti Sheikh, a modern classroom and flooring project worth Rs 2.65 lakh was recently inaugurated by Cabinet minister Mahinder Bhagat. However, sources revealed that the work had already been completed nearly a year ago under the SSA funding, with the state government now taking credit for it.

At Government Primary School, Gazipur Adampur, two modern classrooms were inaugurated. The sources said the rooms were constructed by funds received from NRIs and NGOs and had nothing to do with money allocated either by the state government or Centre.

In Shahkot block, a government teacher said they were instructed to repaint a classroom at Mandala Chhana Government School — which was originally constructed in 2019 under the Congress government’s Smart School initiative — and ready it for inauguration.

The teachers alleged that they were being asked to organise large functions with over 200 guests with a budget of Rs 20,000. “We have to spend from our own pockets. Even if the amount is reimbursed, the actual expenses go well beyond what’s promised,” a teacher said.

At Government Primary School, Bila Nawab, in Nakodar projects claimed to be worth lakhs were inaugurated recently, though the school had received only Rs 23,000 in grants over the past year.

Among other projects under question are the Rs 7.51 lakh smart cluster room at Government Middle Smart School, Basti Sheikh; a smart classroom of the same value at Government Primary School (Girls), Basti Guzan, and Rs 19.47 lakh worth of repairs, new classrooms and toilet blocks at Government Primary School, Kot Sadiq.

The teachers say these projects are mostly pertain to repainting and minor upgrades and presented as new developments.

Voicing his concern, Jalandhar North MLA Bawa Henry urged the state government to shift focus from cosmetic inaugurations to actual infrastructural needs of the schools. He pointed out that two fully air-conditioned government schools, built at a cost of Rs 3 crore each in Bhagat Singh Colony and Burlton Park, remain unopened due to neglect. “A nearby school at Gandhi Camp has over 1,000 students in a cramped space. Shifting students from congested schools to these new facilities would truly serve the spirit of ‘Sikhya Kranti’,” he said.

Rajwinder Kaur Thiara, senior AAP leader and JIT Chairperson, defended the government’s initiative, attributing development in the field of education to CM Bhagwant Mann’s leadership. She specified that the inauguration included only recently completed projects and renovations, all funded by the state government. “Transforming government education has always been AAP’s top priority,” she said.

Cabinet Minister Mahinder Bhagat was not available for comments despite repeated attempts.

Punjab