DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

The school bus service initiated by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab government for state-run schools to facilitate students and reduce dropout rates, has brought about a constructive change in the lives of students.

While revealing this, Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that the Punjab government has launched bus services for approximately 200 schools across the state, including 118 Schools of Eminence. He said that this transportation facility benefitting 10,448 students, comprising 7,698 girls and 2,740 boys.

The Cabinet Minister said that 4,304 girl students are availing themselves of travel facilities for distances between 10 to 20 kilometers, while 1,002 girls are benefiting from services covering distances exceeding 20 kilometers.

The Education Minister informed that the SGRM Girls School in Zira, Ferozepur district has the highest number of beneficiaries, with 712 girls students using the bus service. This is followed by 645 girls from the government school, Mall Road, Bathinda; 466 from Girls School, Nehru Garden, Jalandhar; 399 from Kotkapura; 300 from Government Girls School, Sri Anandpur Sahib and 200 girl students from Girls School, Gobindgarh in district Fatehgarh Sahib.

This facility has also curtailed the trend of students, especially girls, dropping out midway through their school education, categorically said the Cabinet Minister, adding that the Punjab government is gradually expanding the scope of this bus service.
(editor@dailyworld.in)