Money and Brain drain of Punjab a matter of deep concern: Bhagwant Mann

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Chief Ministerial candidate and Member of Parliament Bhagwant Mann has expressed deep concern over the migration of young minds and money (brain and money drain) from India, including Punjab. Mann said that since independence Punjab and Union governments have not implemented any modern and world class plan or improved any system in the field of science including medicine, engineering, information that is why talented brains and loads of money is also going abroad.

In a statement issued from the party headquarters on Saturday, Bhagwant Mann said, "Punjab is one of the states in the country where around 1.50 lakh to 2 lakh youth go abroad every year to study and earn a living. At the same time about Rs 30,000 crore goes to foreign universities, colleges and schools in the form of fees and other expenses, which constitutes 20 per cent of the Punjab government's budget.

Mann said that this exodus is very unfortunate and it should be stopped to save our youth and money. He said that the youth wanted to make progress in the fields of science and technology so that they could get a good education and enjoy a good life to meet the new needs in the new age.

Bhagwant Mann alleged that the ruling Congress, Akali Dal Badal and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments in Punjab have neither provided good and scientific education in the state nor created progressive environment for living a good life. The governments of Parkash Singh Badal, Capt. Amarinder Singh and Charanjit Singh Channi have created drug, corruption, liquor, sand and cable mafia in the state to plunder the natural resources of the state and to fill their own coffers.

Mann said that it was very unfortunate that due to high cost of education and private education mafia students from the state were forced to leave their homes and country to study abroad. Students are facing various problems while going abroad. He said that it was very important to reform the Indian education system and government colleges and universities should be set up in maximum numbers. The present poor condition of government universities should be improved and a concrete plan should be drawn up for regularization of fees of private educational institutions.