Punjab school mentorship programme: 80 IAS and IPS officers to visit adopted schools from today
The Punjab government's 'School Mentorship Programme' will begin on Tuesday with the final list of 80 IAS/IPS/PCS/PPS officers, who have adopted as many government schools, regularly interacting with students and providing them career guidance.
For instance, Khanna SSP Jyoti Yadav, the wife of Punjab Education Minister Harjot Bains, has adopted School of Eminence, Nangal, in Roopnagar district, their home district.
Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain has adopted School of Eminence, Dholewal, Ludhiana, while Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney has adopted School of Eminence, Khanna.
Moga SSP Ajay Gandhi has adopted School of Eminence at Landeke in Moga district, while former education secretary Kamal Kishor Yadav has adopted School of Eminence in Nakodar.
Punjab Education Secretary Anindita Mitra said, 'The department has allotted schools to the officers. The programme will begin on Tuesday, with the officers visiting their respective schools.'
Mitra has issued letters to all 80 officers on the list.
According to the letters, 'Your presence and guidance will offer much-needed motivation to school staff and students and can significantly contribute to strengthening the culture of aspiration, dreams and highest performance in our government schools…. The School Mentorship Programme is conceived as a long-term engagement, with officers encouraged to continue mentoring the same school for a minimum of five years. The nature of engagement is flexible and may be shaped as per mutual convenience. However, officers are expected to maintain continuity of interaction and aim for at least one in-person visit per month, supplemented by remote follow-ups as feasible.'
'The role of the mentor officer is non-administrative and facilitative. Officers are not expected to intervene in routine operations or school-level administration. Rather, they are expected to offer encouragement, constructive feedback, and strategic support to the school leadership…. All engagement under this programme shall be treated as part of official duties,' the letter adds.
The Punjab government has introduced a unique 'School Mentorship Programme', in which bureaucrats are being roped in to inspire and guide young minds to aim high in life. The initiative aims to bridge aspirations and opportunities for government school students by connecting them with civil servants.
Divya Goyal is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in Punjab.
Her interest lies in exploring both news and feature stories, with an effort to reflect human interest at the heart of each piece. She writes on gender issues, education, politics, Sikh diaspora, heritage, the Partition among other subjects. She has also extensively covered issues of minority communities in Pakistan and Afghanistan. She also explores the legacy of India's partition and distinct stories from both West and East Punjab.
She is a gold medalist from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi, the most revered government institute for media studies in India, from where she pursued English Journalism (Print). Her research work on 'Role of micro-blogging platform Twitter in content generation in newspapers' had won accolades at IIMC.
She had started her career in print journalism with Hindustan Times before switching to The Indian Express in 2012.
Her investigative report in 2019 on gender disparity while treating women drug addicts in Punjab won her the Laadli Media Award for Gender Sensitivity in 2020. She won another Laadli for her ground report on the struggle of two girls who ride a boat to reach their school in the border village of Punjab.
... Read More
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
3 hours ago
- Business Standard
'India, Canada to work with renewed vigour': PM Modi to attend G7 Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday confirmed that he will take part in the G7 Summit later this month in Canada. He expressed his eagerness to meet Canada's newly-elected Prime Minister Mark Carney. During a phone call, Carney extended an invitation to PM Modi to attend the summit in Kananaskis. PM Modi thanked him for the invitation and shared details of the conversation on social media. Taking to X, PM Modi said, "As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the Summit." Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister @MarkJCarney of Canada. Congratulated him on his recent election victory and thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this month. As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 6, 2025 PM Modi also congratulated Carney on his recent electoral victory. India-Canada relations: A chance for reset under PM Carney India-Canada ties have remained tense following the controversy surrounding the assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Sikh separatist groups had previously urged the Carney administration to avoid inviting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 Summit, citing what they called India's lack of cooperation in the investigation into Nijjar's killing. Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had alleged that the Indian government was behind the murder but failed to present any evidence to back his claims — a charge that New Delhi has consistently denied. This led to a diplomatic standoff, with both countries expelling senior diplomats amid worsening relations. India has indicated a willingness to move forward under PM Carney, hoping he will handle the matter more responsibly than his predecessor. New Delhi has called on Ottawa to ensure the security of Indian diplomats and to act against extremist groups involved in anti-India campaigns. A bilateral meeting on the margins of the G7 Summit could have offered both leaders an opportunity to signal a fresh start. While Carney has not publicly addressed the Nijjar case, he has expressed interest in leveraging trade to mend ties. 'The India-Canada relationship is incredibly important,' he said, adding that issues could be resolved with 'mutual respect'. PM Modi and his Canadian counterpart have both indicated an intent to ease tensions. However, Carney maintains that Canada is not responsible for the deterioration of ties. Bilateral relations hit a low point in 2023 when Trudeau told the Canadian Parliament TV — without providing evidence — that 'Indian agents' were linked to Nijjar's killing. India dismissed the allegations, and Ottawa has not produced proof since. In 2024, matters worsened when the Indian High Commissioner was labelled a "person of interest" in the case. India called the claim 'ludicrous' and responded by pulling out its envoy and several diplomats while expelling six Canadian officials, including Acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler. Hopes for a diplomatic thaw emerged after Trudeau resigned and Carney won the April elections. Despite belonging to the same Liberal Party, Carney has struck a more measured tone and appears open to rebuilding ties with India. PM Modi's invitation to the G7 is seen as a step in that direction — and a clear signal to Khalistani elements in Canada, who had opposed the move.
News18
5 hours ago
- News18
Operation Blue Star: Why Bhindranwale's Sons Chose To Stay Away From Their Father's Footsteps
Last Updated: To ensure a stable future for her children, Pritam Kaur likely urged her sons to avoid involvement in violent activities and choose a peaceful path On June 6, the anniversary of Operation Blue Star is observed. This military operation, carried out by the Indian Army at Amritsar's Golden Temple, aimed to remove pro-Khalistan leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his armed supporters. Bhindranwale was killed during the operation. Since then, his family has distanced itself from the Khalistan movement he once led. Bhindranwale had a profound influence on the Sikh community, particularly among the rural youth of Punjab. His fiery speeches, dedication to Sikhism, and vocal opposition to the central government earned him a mythical status. Many of his supporters found it hard to believe that such a formidable leader could be killed so easily. Bhindranwale's family included his wife, Bibi Pritam Kaur, and two sons, Ishar Singh and Inderjit Singh. After Operation Blue Star, their lives were greatly affected. Neither his wife nor his sons continued the path of the Sikh movement. Instead, they distanced themselves from it, despite Bhindranwale's status as a religious leader. Bhindranwale's Wife Led A Simple Life Pritam Kaur led a simple life in their native village of Rode Faridkot. Although some sections of the Sikh community respected the family for Bhindranwale's martyr-like image, she never publicly supported the Khalistan movement. Most of her time was devoted to raising her children and farming. She passed away on September 15, 2007 after a prolonged illness. His Sons Distanced Themselves From Religious Path Both of Bhindranwale's sons also kept a low profile. The elder son, Ishar Singh, born in 1971, did not engage in religious or political activities like his father. He lived a quiet life focused on farming in his village until he died in a road accident in 2008. The younger son, Inderjit Singh, also avoided the limelight and continued farming in Punjab with his family, never attempting to revive his father's movement. Punjab's Political And Social Landscape After Operation Blue Star Following Operation Blue Star in 1984, Punjab experienced a period of widespread unrest and violence. Many Sikh families suffered due to the conflict between Sikh militants and government forces. During this tumultuous time, Ishar Singh and Inderjit Singh were very young. Their mother endeavoured to shield them from the violent environment, knowing that involvement in the Khalistan movement would invite further danger. How Bhindranwale's Wife Raised Her Sons In the years after the operation, Pritam Kaur aimed to provide her sons with a normal life. She likely kept them away from the Khalistan movement to protect them from the violence and controversy associated with it. Both sons prioritised farming and family responsibilities over political or religious activism, possibly having learned from their father's death and the tragedies of Operation Blue Star. Bhindranwale's family remained under strict surveillance by government and intelligence agencies. Had his sons chosen to follow their father's path, they would have faced immediate targeting. Additionally, not all Sikhs supported the Khalistan movement, with mainstream Sikh organisations like the Shiromani Akali Dal advocating for peace. This lack of broad support, coupled with government surveillance, made it prudent for the sons to remain neutral. Risk Of Bearing Father's Legacy Bhindranwale's image as a martyr and militant leader within the Sikh community was also controversial. Continuing his legacy would have been fraught with risks. Faced with the dual pressures from Khalistan supporters who viewed their father as a hero and the non-Sikh community who associated him with militancy, the sons chose to avoid controversy. In efforts to secure a stable future for her children, Pritam Kaur likely encouraged her sons to stay away from violent activities. During the 1980s and 1990s, the havoc wreaked by militancy and military action in Punjab led many Sikh families to steer their children away from violence. Bhindranwale's family was no exception, seeking to ensure a safe and stable future for the next generation. First Published: June 06, 2025, 17:33 IST
Mint
7 hours ago
- Mint
Bengaluru stampede outrage: Siddaramaiah's political secretary K Govindaraj suspended, intelligence chief transferred
Two days after the tragic stampede in Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium, K Govindaraj has been relieved from the post of political secretary to the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with immediate effect, said a state government notification. Apart from this, Hemanth Nimbalkar, Karnataka's Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence), has been transferred without a new posting amid the outrage over Bengaluru stampede, reported News18 quoting sources. Earlier on 5 June, the Karnataka police suspended multiple IPS officers, including the Bengaluru city police Commissioner, B Dayananda. Senior IPS officer Seemant Kumar Singh took charge as the city police commissioner on Friday. In the stampede that took place during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL victory celebrations, 11 people were killed and 47 were injured.
