Ludhiana: Several of the city’s leading educators were recognised formally for their contributions to academic infrastructure and social welfare during the 77th Republic Day celebrations at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU).The district administration, led by Punjab minister Harbhajan Singh ETO, honoured the principals of several prominent govt institutions for their roles in transforming the local educational landscape. Among the awardees was Suman Lata, principal of the Govt College for Girls, Ludhiana. Under her leadership, the institute secured a NAAC ‘A’ Grade with a CGPA of 3.22 — the highest score among all govt colleges in Punjab.
“I humbly dedicate this award to the entire team and students,” Suman Lata said. She noted that beyond academic achievements, the college had focused on cultural preservation through the construction of ‘Virasat Ghar’, a dedicated space for Punjabi heritage.Kawaljot Kaur, principal of Govt Senior Secondary School (GSSS), Ayali Khurd, was recognised for her dual role as an educator and community leader. Since 2016, she has secured corporate social responsibility (CSR) funding to add 10 classrooms, new sanitation facilities, and water stations to her campus. Deputy commissioner Himanshu Jain also lauded her active participation in recent flood-relief operations.The honours also extended to Pardeep Kumar, principal of GSSS Smart School, PAU. A veteran of the education department since 1997, Kumar was cited for his career-long commitment to improving school infrastructure through community partnerships. “In my previous posting at Ghadiyana Kalan, villagers joined our efforts to overhaul the school’s facilities,” Kumar said. “I intend to continue these efforts even beyond my retirement.“Other notable people from the education sector who were honoured included Rajinder Kaur, principal of Govt School at Daad village, and Manoj Kumar Jambla, an education department official. The awards highlight a growing trend of “Smart School” initiatives in Ludhiana, where principals are increasingly leveraging community and corporate support to supplement govt funding.
