Excelsior Correspondent
03CHANDIGARH, Mar 2: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that the State of Punjab deserves good governance to harness it’s Agri and river water resources and at the same time, keep away the menace of narcotic drug abuse and terrorism.
Recalling the history, Dr Jitendra Singh said, Punjab had inherited a wounded legacy of partition forced upon it in 1947 and yet the patriotic people of Punjab had always stood against the anti-national forces that threatened the integrity of India.
The Minister said, PM Narendra Modi accords high priority to the development of Punjab and is very sensitive about the sentiments of it’s people. He gave PM Modi full credit for reviving the Shahpur Kandi project on river Ravi which had been stalled by earlier Governments.
He called for a technology-driven transformation of Punjab, emphasising the urgent need to leverage Artificial Intelligence in agriculture, accelerate long-pending water infrastructure projects, promote entrepreneurship among youth, and strengthen innovation-led growth. He said Punjab has the capacity to emerge as a leading contributor to India’s knowledge economy if it aligns governance, technology and societal mindset with emerging global trends.
Dr Jitendra Singh was speaking at an interactive session in Chandigarh on the theme “Challenges, Opportunities and the Road Ahead for Punjab.” The event was held at Sandhu Farmlands near Siswan T Point, Majra, New Chandigarh.
The programme was attended by senior civil servants, industry representatives, members of academia, former administrators and prominent citizens from Chandigarh and Punjab. Among those present were K.B.S. Sidhu, IAS, former Special Chief Secretary, Punjab; Dr Gurmohan Singh Sandhu; senior police officials including former DGP Sardar Jaswinder Singh; and representatives from business and agricultural sectors.
Addressing concerns related to river waters and irrigation, the Minister referred to the Indus Waters framework and ongoing efforts to ensure optimal utilisation of India’s rightful share of water. He spoke about the Shahpur Kandi project and other river-based infrastructure initiatives, stating that completion of these projects would significantly expand irrigation coverage across Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir, benefiting thousands of hectares of agricultural land. He said better water management would directly strengthen farmers’ incomes and regional agricultural sustainability.
On agriculture, Dr Jitendra Singh stressed the importance of integrating new technologies including Artificial Intelligence and domain-specific digital tools to improve crop forecasting, reduce input costs and enhance productivity.
Speaking on youth aspirations, the Minister highlighted the rapid growth of India’s startup ecosystem over the past decade. He emphasised that employment opportunities today extend well beyond traditional Government jobs and called for a generational shift in mindset to embrace innovation, enterprise and self-employment.
Dr Jitendra Singh also referred to the evolving education framework, stating that greater flexibility in subject choices and multidisciplinary pathways would allow students to align careers with aptitude rather than compulsion. He said the new approach would reduce skill mismatches and help build a future-ready workforce.
Addressing issues such as drug abuse and social challenges, the Minister emphasised the need for community participation and value-based awareness alongside enforcement measures. He said sustainable solutions require coordinated institutional response and public engagement.
Dr Jitendra Singh concluded by encouraging constructive dialogue among policymakers, industry leaders, educators and citizens to collectively shape Punjab’s development trajectory. He said platforms such as the Chandigarh interaction help generate practical ideas and actionable pathways for inclusive and innovation-driven growth.
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