-CM Mann Lays Foundation Stone of ₹15 Crore Co-Educational College in Ajnala Border Belt
Ajnala (Amritsar), 19 January 2026
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today laid the foundation stone of a ₹15 crore Government Degree College in Ajnala and announced that the institution will be named after the revered scholar Baba Ghamchuk Ji Maharaj.
Addressing the gathering, CM Mann sharply criticised the previous governments of Congress, Akali Dal, and BJP, accusing them of collectively looting Punjab for decades, destroying its institutions, and forcing generations of youth to seek opportunities abroad.
He stated that this new college symbolises the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s firm commitment to rebuilding a vibrant “Rangla Punjab” through education, equal opportunities, and active public participation.
The Chief Minister emphasised that while the state government will provide all necessary facilities and support, every Punjabi must contribute according to their capacity to transform Punjab into a prosperous state where youth no longer feel compelled to leave the country for a better future.
He accused the opposition parties of being embroiled in internal conflicts and lacking any real vision or agenda for the people’s welfare. “They are merely waiting for their turn to loot the state and its resources once again. But the people of Punjab are wise and courageous—they will never allow these forces to succeed in their malicious plans,” he said.
CM Mann urged the public to remain vigilant against opportunistic and power-hungry politicians whose only goal has been to exploit Punjab and its people. He called for the complete rejection of these traditional parties so that the government’s efforts to build a prosperous Punjab can succeed.
Highlighting his government’s achievements, he mentioned the rapid expansion of Aam Aadmi Clinics, schools, colleges, and other people-centric initiatives aimed at accelerating development.
watch…..Border Farming Boost: CM Mann’s Relief for Punjab Farmers
Regarding the new project, the Chief Minister informed that the co-educational college is being constructed in Bikraur village, located along the international border. The institution will be built on 15 acres of land donated by the village panchayat and residents, for which he expressed gratitude.
He said the college will benefit youth from around 50 nearby villages, with an expected enrolment of over 2,000 students in the coming years. The college will offer modern courses in Arts, Science, Commerce, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Skills, ensuring quality and contemporary education right in the border region.
CM Mann expressed confidence that the college will play a transformative role in shaping the future of the youth, particularly girls, in this area.
He announced that students from the village that donated the land (Bikraur) will receive free education in the new college as a special gesture.
Stressing the importance of education, he appealed to parents to ensure their children receive quality schooling so they are not forced to migrate abroad in search of opportunities.
Addressing the issue of youth migration, the Chief Minister said previous governments ignored this challenge and destroyed the system, compelling young people to look outside Punjab and India. He proudly noted that his government has provided regular government jobs to more than 63,000 youth purely on the basis of merit.
On concerns of border residents, CM Mann acknowledged them as true patriots and said the Punjab government is making every effort for their welfare. He highlighted a major relief for border belt farmers: the Central Government has given in-principle approval to shift the border fence closer to the international boundary. This will allow thousands of acres of farmland—previously beyond the fence—to be cultivated without restrictions. Earlier, farmers had to cross the fence under BSF escort to access their fields along the 532 km India-Pakistan border.
Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains praised the Punjab government’s progress in the education sector, calling the state a national leader. He described the Ajnala college project as a historic step that will change the destiny of youth in the border district, crediting the Chief Minister’s visionary leadership.
AAP senior leader and Punjab Prabhari Manish Sisodia termed the initiative a groundbreaking move to empower border youth. He noted that there was previously no college within a 70 km radius in Ajnala, and this long-pending demand has now been fulfilled, reflecting the government’s commitment to delivering on every promise.
The event was attended by Cabinet Ministers Harjot Singh Bains and Harbhajan Singh ETO, Punjab AAP Prabhari Manish Sisodia, MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, and other party leaders and local representatives.
Bhagwant Mann Government’s Transformative Step for Border Youth
The establishment of the Government Degree and Vocational Training College at Bikraur marks a decisive and far-sighted intervention by the Bhagwant Singh Mann government to end decades of neglect in the Ajnala border belt. Previously, students—especially girls and first-generation learners—often had to travel nearly 40 km to Amritsar for higher education, frequently leading to dropouts.
By fulfilling a long-standing public demand, the government has ensured direct access to quality higher education and skill-based learning for more than 50 surrounding villages on a 15-acre modern campus. The college integrates traditional degree programmes with employment-oriented courses in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Skills.
Designed as an inclusive, student-centric institution with vocational facilities, sports infrastructure, and universal accessibility, this college is set to become a powerful catalyst for social inclusion, gender equity, and youth empowerment in Punjab’s sensitive border region—clearly reflecting the Mann government’s model of equity, access, and opportunity for all.
