Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said the G20 meet on education here will prove to be an important platform for seeking vital inputs of expert nations to boost the sector of the country and the state in particular.
The chief minister, while addressing a gathering during the second meeting of the G20 Education Working Group, said he ardently believes that the deliberations here will not only uplift the standard of education but also benefit the state's youth immensely.
He also expressed hope that the efforts of the G20 in addressing major issues related to the global economy will give a major fillip to the country's economic growth in general and that of the state in particular, according to a Punjab government statement.
Mann also lauded the concerted efforts being made by the G20 for promoting an environment of peace, understanding and international cooperation. The government of India really deserves an accolade for holding the mega event on this land of great gurus, saints and seers, he said and thanked the Centre for choosing the holy city to organise two sessions on education and labour.
Mann recalled that the city was a prominent centre of trade and commerce before the Partition and added that the state government is making all efforts to again develop it as a trade hub. Several companies of repute have evinced keen interest to set up their ventures in Amritsar, he said.
Several events are being held in Amritsar and other cities of India as part of the country's presidency of the G20. The meeting on education here is being held from March 15-17 and the L20 meeting on labour is scheduled for March 19-20. The chief minister highlighted the initiatives taken by the state government in field of education and said it is according top priority to the sector.
The Punjab government believes that health and education form the bedrock for human and social development and stands committed to strengthen and expand these two critical sectors, Mann said. He said the state government has proposed an outlay of Rs 17,072 crore for school and higher education for the coming fiscal year. Budget of Rs 200 crore has been kept for upgrading schools into the "schools of eminence", the chief minister said.
He said that 117 "schools of eminence" will ensure holistic development of students. These schools will cater to the students of classes 9-12, Mann said. Underscoring the need for knowledge sharing, the chief minister said it can act as a catalyst for the overall development of students.
In another landmark initiative, the state government has set up, the "Punjab Sikhya-te-Sehat Fund" that will act as a catalyst to transform the education and health sectors by active participation of non-resident Indians, he said. Mann said the G20 meet here will go a long way in sensitising governments by highlighting the issues and problems concerning the people across the globe.
