Centre holding back funds, Mandi Board roads in bad shape: Punjab government

Chandigarh: The Punjab govt on Friday blamed the Centre for rough village roads, citing the withholding of the Rural Development Fund (RDF). Raised the issue during the Punjab assembly session's question hour, public works minister Harbhajan Singh said the delay in releasing money had hampered infrastructure development.
Responding to a query from Zira legislator Naresh Kataria regarding the condition of the Zira-Mallanwala road, Harbhajan Singh acknowledged the hardships that the commuters faced. "A journey that should take 15 minutes now takes 45 minutes due to the poor condition of the roads, forcing travellers to take longer routes," Kataria said, emphasising that the mandi board, responsible for maintaining rural roads, lacked the repair money. "Until the Centre releases the RDF, road construction and repairs will remain a challenge," he said.
Women's hostels for Mohali
Women's and child development minister Baljit Kaur announced a proposal to construct three hostels for working women in Mohali. One to accommodate 100 women will be built in Sector 79 with support from the Nirbhaya Fund. The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (Gmada) has also identified a 5-acre plot in Sector 66 for another hostel. Proposal for a third hostel, for 150 women at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Phase 1, is with the central govt for approval.
‘Hindi teacher, French class'
AAP legislator Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh raised concerns over a shortage of permanent members of faculty at Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar. He highlighted that many departments lacked regular heads, forcing members of faculty from unrelated disciplines to take on leadership roles. "A Hindi department teacher heads the French department, which is unacceptable. The university's School of Financial Studies has only nine regular teachers, while 26 are contractual or part-timers. This staff shortage extends across multiple departments," he claimed.
The issue has underscored broader concerns over academic standards and teaching appointments at state universities, prompting calls for govt intervention. The Punjab assembly session highlighted critical issues affecting infrastructure, education, and women's welfare. While the state govt has pinned rural road delays on the Centre's fund freeze, it has also outlined new initiatives to support working women. The ongoing faculty shortages at GNDU, however, remain a pressing concern.
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