Krishan Kumar, man behind Punjab's education reforms, now anchors its boat in battle over river waters

Time of India

04-05-2025

Jalandhar: As Punjab is once again locked in a battle with Haryana over river waters and has been holding ground against releasing "extra" water, Punjab principal secretary (water resources)
is the man playing a pivotal role in strengthening and pleading the state's case in the dispute which has this time also evoked the intervention of the Union home ministry.
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Known for doing his homework thoroughly for whatever task he takes up or is entrusted to him, and a stickler to rules, Kumar was earlier at the centre of pushing major reforms in school education — first as director general (school education) and then as secretary (education).
His name and those of a few Punjab engineers posted in the Bhakra Beas Management Board are already being discussed and admired in Punjabi social media space for standing their ground, citing rules and data instead of giving in to BBMB directives, which most in Punjab perceive as unfair.
It is learnt that as other BBMB members in a meeting on April 30 voted for releasing "extra" water, and the meeting was supposed to end in half an hour, Kumar dug in his heels and dragged the meeting to 5.5 hours alone. He also scuttled BBMB's move to get Punjab's objections later through email, as he typed objections over three pages in the meeting itself and placed these on record.
Sticking to the rules, he has been adapting a practical and pragmatic approach and is also known for innovating for improvements wherever he has served.
Known for backing performers and reprimanding shirkers, he has earned admirers, but there is no dearth of loathers also.
During his stint as Nawanshahr deputy commissioner from 2005 to 2007, his innovative and aggressive campaign against female foeticide in the district, with strong social and medical auditing, drew attention at the state level and then at the national level. In Aug 2006, the then chief minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, wrote to all DCs to follow a similar strategy and functional approach.
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In Feb 2007, the Union ministry of health and family welfare asked all the states to replicate the 'Nawanshahr model' to check female foeticide.
He has had his share of run-ins with the powerful also. When he was posted as the director general (school education) in the later part of 2007, his office became a crucial one as he started pushing reforms in school education. The then education minister, Dr Upinderjit Kaur, a former university professor and coming from a traditional Akali family, backed the reforms and provided Kumar with political cover.
As Upinderjit's portfolio was changed when Manpreet Badal parted ways, and she was made finance minister, Krishan Kumar soon had a run-in with the new education minister, Sewa Singh Sekhwan, and was eased out.
He then had a stint in the PMO.
He was brought in as education secretary by Capt Amarinder Singh at the start of his second stint in 2017. With Kumar at the helm, Punjab rose from 22nd position in the
Performance Grading Index
nationally to the top.
Amarinder backed him, even annoying party colleagues as Krishan brought merit and transparency in transfers and ended political interference, apart from quite a few other administrative reforms. He also improved school infrastructure with community support. During this stint, he also issued instructions against any schools discouraging students from conversing in Punjabi.
When AAP came into power, he was secretary of higher education and was transferred to the water resources department in April 2022.
With the political temperature soaring now, Krishan Kumar finds himself in the middle of Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann and his party's biggest test in Punjab so far. MSID:: 120874786 413 |