Visiting Punjab-2
Los Angeles/Apr 21, 2026
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh
During the past few years, village life in Punjab has changed a lot. A large number of people have moved either to the cities or overseas. However, despite this, village life is still very simple. The air is fresh. There is very little pollution, if any. Also, still there is some sense of community which is usually lacking in cities. Most common amenities are now available in villages. For example, in my own village, there is a co-operative bank, a commercial bank, a general store, a well-qualified doctor, a free health clinic, and a variety of other service outlets. In other words, most of one's needs can be met locally rather than going to the city. On the religious side, our village has four Gurdwaras, a Hindu Temple and a Christian church.
When we arrived in Punjab at the end of February this year (2026), the flowing green fields of wheat were a very pleasant sight all around. Wheat and paddy continue to be the two major crops in the province though there were some fields of sugar cane as well. Efforts at diversifying the crops have been met with limited success. Over the years, people of Punjab have become more environmentally conscious. This is evident in plantation of more trees and protecting flora and fauna. There are a lot more species of birds around now than before. The provincial government deserves some credit for this. Bhagwant Singh Mann’s government must be commended for another commendable initiative.
In view of the carnage on Punjab’s roads and highways, the provincial government created the Punjab Road Safety Force (PRSF) in January 2024. It is the first dedicated highway police force aimed at reducing fatal road accidents. This Force has 1600 plus personnel and 144 high-tech vehicles. This PRSF provides rapid emergency response, medical aid, and traffic management on state and national highways. At the same time, it helps reduce the high fatality rate of accidents. According to available information, the Punjab Road Safety Force has saved 35,000 lives and has helped reduce highway deaths by 50%. There are two other areas in which the provincial government has made significant improvements. These are: Education and Health.
According to the government’s promotional materials, the Punjab government has hired 15,000 new teachers. In the national achievement survey, Punjab has come out on top. In the health sector, the government states that it has opened close to 1,000 health clinics around the province to provide free checkups, medicines, and health care. It goes on to state that the government has hired 2,661 new doctors, paramedics, and frontline staff. Also, it has provided up to 10 lakhs of insured medical coverage for each family. These are very encouraging developments. Such initiatives are very positive.Like every Punjabi living abroad, it is my sincere hope and wish to see Punjab regain its position as one of the best states in India.
Balwant Sanghera
(Balwant Sanghera is a retired School Psychologist and Community Activist. )
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