BATHINDA, Jan 13: Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann visited the District Library here to engage with students participating in Mission Pragati, a new state initiative providing free academic and physical coaching for competitive exams. The program is specifically designed to bridge the gap for meritorious rural students who cannot afford private training for careers in the police and armed forces.
The Chief Minister noted that the project is starting with a pilot batch of 40 students who are receiving a comprehensive dual-track training module. This includes both classroom preparation and physical conditioning led by experts from the Punjab Police and C-Pyte to ensure candidates are ready for the rigorous standards of the SSB and other central recruitment boards.
“The objective is to support meritorious students, especially from rural areas, who lack access to quality and affordable coaching facilities,” Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said. “Along with academic coaching, students are also being provided physical training so that they are fully fit.”
The initiative relies on a “youth helping youth” model, where the mentors are themselves candidates with firsthand experience in competitive examinations. To remove financial barriers, the government has utilized existing library infrastructure to offer expensive study materials and specialized books to members at no cost.
The Chief Minister noted that the administration is fostering an “Education Revolution” aimed at helping the youth transition from job seekers to job givers. He used the analogy of a runway to describe how the state is providing the necessary infrastructure for young people to take flight in their professional lives.
“This initiative has emerged as a ‘youth helping youth’ model and enjoys support from educationists, administrative officers, and students,” the Chief Minister mentioned. “The state government is creating the conditions for young people to realise their dreams.”
Reflecting on past governance, the Chief Minister said that previous policies often sidelined underprivileged children. He noted that Mission Pragati is a step toward ensuring “no one is left behind” in the quest for public service roles.
