In a bid to provide the best possible higher education free of cost to meritorious students of poor families, especially from a rural background, the Punjab government would soon launch a unique education scheme with the help of renowned private educational institutions.
A decision to this effect was taken by chief minister Parkash Singh Badal at a meeting with renowned educationists and intelligentsia here on Sunday.

Underscoring the need to impart quality education to these students in "top private schools and colleges", the chief minister called upon eminent educationists and academicians to put in efforts in this regard.

Badal also urged them to open more educational branches of their institutions to cater to the needs of these deprived students.

He said the Punjab government, keeping the education sector on priority, was fully committed to imparting quality education in the state. "It is the bounden duty of all of us to cherish the aspirations of this disadvantaged section of the students and save our young, intelligent potential that could prove to be an asset to the nation in future," Badal said.

Assuring full support of the government, Badal directed the director general of school education, KS Pannu, to visit such private schools for their requirements in terms of hostel accommodation and other infrastructure to initiate this scheme.