Sangrur: Punjab minister Aman Arora on Tuesday launched a drive to distribute free schoolbags to 19,886 students of 129 govt schools in his Sunam constituency. The initiative is being funded by his family’s Babu Bhagwan Das Arora Foundation.The drive began at Shaheed Bhagwan Singh Govt Smart School (Girls) in Longowal, where 5,710 girls from classes 6 to 12 received bags. The remaining students will receive them in the coming days.Thirteen local students who cleared NEET and JEE, including eight girls, were also honoured along with school toppers. Arora highlighted the achievements of girl students in medical, non-medical, defence and civil services.On private school fee hikes, Arora said the govt had capped annual fee increases at 5% and warned that schools violating the limit would face action and be required to refund excess fees. He said the govt was committed to preventing commercialisation of education and reducing the financial burden on parents.Arora said the govt was also focusing on improving education and facilities in govt schools and ensuring that no child was deprived of education due to financial constraints.
