Giddarbaha Municipality

Giddarbaha was first constituted as a Notified Area Committee, in 1908. The Sub Divisional Officer, (Civil), Fazilka, used to be its ex-officio President. Later on, it was converted into a Small Town Committee in 1928. The Small Town Committee was converted into a Municipal Committee, Class III on 1 April 1955 and raised to the status of Class II municipality in 1970. The bye-laws were introduced in 1958.

The water supply system was introduced in 1953. There was no tube-well at the waterworks, but canal water supply system by slow sand filter system was in force. For the removal of refuse and night soil, the tractor-trollies and carts are used. Previously, the municipality maintained two hospitals, which were provincialised from 1 November 1970.

According to the 1991 Census, the area of the town within municipal limits was 8.25 sq. km. And its population was 29,866 persons. In 1992-93, the municipality had 18 non-official members.

Civic amenities provided by the municipality include water supply, sewerage, street-lights and sanitation, etc. it maintains a library, reading rooms and fire brigade. It also maintains 35 km of roads.

Nagar Panchayat, Bagha Purana

Nagar panchayat (Notified Area Committee), Bagha Purana was constituted in March 1979.

According to the 1991 Census, the area of the town within its limits was 6.20 sq. km. And its population was 17,287 persons. In 1992-93, the municipality had one official member.

The civic amenities provided by the Nagar Panchayat include sanitation, street-lights, paving of drains, construction of streets (dry bricks), etc.

Nagar Panchayat, Badhni Kalan

Nagar Panchayat, Badhni Kalan was constituted in 1988. But it started functioning in May 1993. Elections were held in December 1994 and 11 members were elected.

According to the 1991 Census, its population was 8,572 persons.

(c) Town and Country Planning and Housing

The office of the Divisional Town Planner, Firozpur Division, Firozpur, was set up at Firozpur on 16 April 1970. The Divisional Town Planner on 16 April 1970. The Divisional Town Planner works under the administrative control of Chief Town Planner, Punjab, Chandigarh. Besides the Firozpur District, the jurisdiction of this office also extends to the Faridkot District. The Divisional Town Planer is responsible for initiating programmes of city development and controlling and organizing urban development. The office prepares master plans for towns as well as for other areas, which serve as a blueprint for future development. Besides, he prepares the layout plans for various schemes, viz. town planning scheme for the municipal councils, development schemes for the improvement trusts.

The work of the Town Planning Department is divided in two sectors namely; Urban Sector (provincial Perspective Planning and Environmental Research Planning & Design) and Rural Sector (Community development Block Planning). In the Urban Sector, the activities of the department include preparation of master plans for important cities and towns and places of historical/religious/tourist importance, preparation of Integrated Urban Development Projects for major cities, preparation of layout plans and schemes of Improvement Trusts and Municipal Councils. In the rural section the activities of the department include surveys and studies of Community Development Plans at various levels like District and Block, preparation of Development plans for villages selected under the Integrated Rural Development Programme.

This office, under the directions of Government has prepared the revised master plans for the towns namely; Faridkot, Moga and Muktsar for 20 years (1991 to 2011). Besides, master plan of Kot Kapura has also been revised for 20 year (1991 to 2011). During 192-93, six development schemes/layout plans relating to various improvement trusts of the district have also been prepared.

Town Planning schemes (111.60 acres) of the area adjacent to Harindra nagar in Faridkot City has also been prepared. Suggestions were sent to different municipal committees regarding the preparation of town planning schemes in the district. Besides, 6 schemes/survey plans/building designs were also prepared for Government projects.

To make available planned house sites with all public amenities and services in the urban areas, development schemes and new urban estates are planned. Similarly, town planning schemes are also prepared for potential vacant lands within the municipal areas. Besides, through re-development schemes, densities have been reduced in some areas and non-conforming used discontinued. Residential services have been provided, streets have been widened and the overall environment of the areas has been improved. The new mandis are developed so as to provide for grain shops, adequate areas for auction platforms, circulation and parking service facilities for farmers `vehicles, farmers` rest-houses. Godowns etc. besides, to check unplanned development and mushroom growth around the cities, large areas around important cities and towns have been notified as controlled Areas, under a relevant Act.

Basically, this office renders technical advice to the various departments including municipalities and improvement trusts and it co-ordinates with them in the preparation and implementation of developmental work. Town Planning Schemes are prepared under section 192 of the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911.

Upto 30 September 1992, 24 Town Planning Schemes; 19 Development Schemes; and 7 Master plans were prepared in the Faridkot District.

Improvement Trusts

An improvement trust is defined as special form of local body which has been established in some of the towns where the problem of sanitation has assumed as serious problem on account of congestion and over crowding. It generally, acquires land for development schemes and allots/auctions plots to the general public including the weaker section of the society. It develops new areas and colonies in accordance with modern concept of urbanization and planned lay out of the towns/cities. The main functions of the improvement trusts include town planning, clearance of slums, provision of water supply, sewerage street-light, widening of existing roads and roundabouts, construction of markets and residential colonies with all basic amenities, beautification of towns and provision of open space for parks, etc.

The members of an improvement trust are appointed from amongst the public men by the State Government, besides a few ex officio members. The term of office of a member of an improvement trust is three years.

The main financial sources of the improvement trust are municipal contributions, government grants, income from trust property, nazool property, fees and returns from investments, etc.

The following improvement trusts are functioning in the Faridkot District: -

Kot Kapura Improvement Trust, Kot Kapura – The Improvement Trust, Kot Kapura was constituted on 5 January 1973 vide Notification No 81 (43) –3C-73125, under the Punjab Town Improvement Trust Act, 1922. Then in 1980 it was superseded, vide, Notification No. 965- U.S.L.G. –II-80/ 30145,dated 11 August 1980. The Trust was again constituted, vide, Notification No. 171-L. G. Unit- II- 83/25414, dated 23 December 1983.

The Trust has prepared various development schemes viz. Guru Teg Bahadur Market, Dashmesh shopping Centre , Veterinary Hospital, on Jalaiana Duareana Road, Maharaja Ranjit Singh nagar, truck stand near New Stand, etc. Besides, in 1988 the Trust got amended the layout plan of its development scheme “Ambedkar nagar” from the Government and accordingly 31 residential plots (150 sq. yards each) were converted into the plots of shop-cum flats.

The income and expenditure of the Improvement Trust, Kot Kapura during 1992-93 were Rs 14,69,000 and Rs 21,19,000 respectively.

Moga Improvement Trust, Moga– The Improvement Trust, Moga was constituted in 1972, vide, Punjab Government Notification No. 43-3CI-72/21877, dated 27 November 1972.

The Trust has framed various development schemes viz. Shaheed Bhagat Singh Market, residential scheme covering an area of 15.52 acres for the uplift of the town. The scheme known as Shaheed Bhagat Singh market covering an area of 1.52 acres, has been fully completed.

The income the expenditure of the Improvement Trust, Moga, during 1992-93 were Rs 3,86,000 and 4,40,000 respectively.

Faridkot Improvement Trust, Faridkot – The Improvement Trust, Faridkot was constituted on 14 June 1973. The Trust has framed various development schemes in the town. The Nehru Shopping Centre Scheme and old Sarai Area Development Scheme (Baba Faridkot Market) have been fully completed.

The income and expenditure of the Improvement Trust, Faridkot, during 1992-93 were Rs 19,43,000 and Rs 7,83,000 respectively.

(d) Panchayati Raj

The British regime did a great harm to this country by substituting the panchayats with a centralized bureaucratic system of administration. After the Independence it was strongly felt that the panchayats must be revived. Mahatma Gandhi also drew pointed attention to this basic necessity. Accordingly the organization of village panchayats was made one of the Directive Principles of the State Policy in the Constitution of India.

Panchayati Raj is a three-tier system of administration for the development of rural areas, with the gram panchayat at the village level, the panchayat Samiti at the block level and Zila parishad at the district level. It has been introduced to provide a bold and imaginative leadership for all round development of the village community. As the economic uplift of the community cannot be entrusted to any other organization than the one represented by the village people themselves, the role of the Panchayati Raj institution in rebuilding of the rural India becomes inevitable important. The panchayati Raj Movement was launched in the State on 2 October 1961.

Three tier of the Panchayati Raj; the gram panchayat, the panchayat samiti, and the zila parishad are described below:

Gram Panchayats– In erstwhile Faridkot Princely State a Panchayat Act was introduced in 1912. Eighteen centers of panchayats were formed with local lambardrs and other influential villagers as the members. On the formation of PEPSU in 1948, PEPSU panchayati Raj Act was passed in 1951. Under the Act, niaya panchayats were constituted separately for a group of 5 or 6 villages. On the merger of PEPSU in the Punjab on 1 November 1956, the provisions of the Punjab Gram Panchayat Act, 1952 became applicable to the panchayats of this district also. The PEPSU Panchayati Raj Act, 1952, which was emended in 1960. Under the Act, a gram sabha may be constituted for any village or group of contiguous villages with a population of not less of contiguous villages with a population of not less of contiguous villages with a population of not less than 500 and a gram panchayat is elected for the gram sabha area and not for each village. The government, of course, has the power to relax the government, of course, has the power to relax the restriction. Every male or female who is entered as a voter on the electoral roll of the State Vidhan Sabha is a member of the gram sabha. The members of the gram sabha elect the members of the panchayats from amongst themselves. If no woman is elected as a panch, the woman candidate securing the highest number of votes amongst the women candidates in that election is co-opted by the panchayat as a panch, and where no such woman candidate is available, two women are co-opted as panches by the competent authority. Similarly, it has been provided that every panchayat shall have one or two members of the scheduled Castes depending upon the ratio of their population in the village.

The number of panches and the mode of election of sarpanch of a panchayat has been changing from time to time. In 1960, a gram sabha could elect 5 to 9 panches including the sarpanch and a lady panch. In 1971, the number of panches was raised from 5 to 11, but the mode of election of sarpanch was made indirect, i.e. the panches of a panchayat were to elect the sarpanch from amongst themselves. In 1972, election of the sarpanch was again made direct, i.e. the members of a gram sabha were to electing the panches, the number of panches remaining the same. The election of sarpanch was again made indirect in 1978 with no change as to the number of panches. From 1982, the election of sarpanch has again been made direct without altering the total number of panches.

A new Act viz. the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act. 1994 (Punjab Act No. 9 of 1994) has been enacted to replace the Punjab Gram Panchayat and the Punjab Panchayat Samitis and zila Parishads Act, 1961, relating to the panchayat samitis and zila parishads. The Act came into force on 21 April 1994. Under the Act, a gram panchayat is elected for the gram sabha area and not for each village. Every male or female who is entered as a voter on the electoral roll of the state Vidhan Sabha is a member of the gram sabha. These members of the gram sabha elect the members of the panchayats from amongst themselves.

The number of panches in any gram panchayat varies from 5 to 13 according to the size of population of the gram sabha. A number of seats for the offices of the panches and sarpanches have been reserved under the sections 11 and 12 of the Act.

Under the Act, gram panchayat is to meet at least once a month at a place within the gram panchayat area. The majority of panches for the time holding office form a quorum (under section 24(1) of Punjab panchayati Raj Act, 1994).

All the decisions of the panchayat are taken by majority and when the voting is equal, the sarpanch or panch presiding, as equal, the sarpanch or panch presiding, as the case may be, can give his casing vote [under section 24 (3) of the Act].

During the year 1993, there were 581 panchayats with 4,225 elected members in the Faridkot District (including 1,253 Harijans and 1,141 ladies).

The main functions of the gram panchayats are: general functions (such as preparation of annual plans, annual budget, etc); construction, repair and maintenance of community assets, agriculture including agriculture extension; animal husbandry, dairying and poultry; fisheries; social and farm forestry, minor forest produce; fuel and fodder; khadi, village and cottage industries rural housing; rural electrification including distribution of electricity; non-conventional energy source; poverty alleviation programme; education including primary and secondary schools; adult and non-formal education, promotion of adult literacy; cultural activities; fairs and festivals; public health and family welfare; women and child development; social welfare including welfare of the handicapped and mentally retarded; welfare of weaker sections and in particular the Scheduled Castes and public distribution system.

The main sources of income of the panchayats are: grants-in-aid from Government, grants-in-aid from local bodies, a percentage of land revenue collection, donation, taxes, duties, cesses and fees, income from village common lands, sale proceeds of dust, dirt and dung, etc. the fines and penalties which the panchayats impose are also transferred to their funds.

The income of the panchayats in the Faridkot District, during 1975-76, 1980-81 and 1985-86 to 1992-93 is given below:

Year	Grants from Government	Voluntary Contribution	House tax	Total
1975-76	34,70,103	14,746	16,99,241	51,84,090
1980-81	17,25,644	1,16,588	5,40,884	23,83,116
1985-86	1,08,46,167	97,993	5,45,924	1,14,90,084
1986-87	1,06,73,670	30,182	5,45,515	1,12,49,367
1987-88	80,70,263	37,334	5,51,262	86,58,859
1988-89	1,64,39,213	44,859	5,53,297	1,90,37,369
1989-90	2,23,18,410	12,41,561	5,56,859	2,41,16,821
1990-91	2,65,66,489	6,04,205	5,60,614	2,77,31,308
1991-92	3,37,50,085	5,3,398	5,82,480	3,48,65,963
1992-93	4,99,47,192	4,48,000	5,87,322	5,09,82,514

(Source: Director, Rural Development and Panchayat, Punjab)

Panchayat Samitis – Under the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, a Panchayat Samiti is constituted at the block level. The Faridkot District is divided into 10 community development blocks. There is one panchayat samiti for each block. The number of members of the panchayat samitis has been determined under section 99 of the Act.

The Reservation of seats of panchayat samitis under section 102 of the Act of 1994.

The chairman and Vice-Chairman are elected from amongst the elected members and their term of office is five years. The main functions of panchayat samitis are: agriculture, land improvement and soil conservation; minor irrigation, water management and watershed development; poverty alleviation programme; animal husbandry, dairying and poultry; fisheries; dhadi, village and cottage industries; rural housing; drinking water; social and farm forestry, minor forest produce, fuel and fodder. Roads, buildings, bridges, ferries, waterways and other means of communication; non-conventional energy sources; education including primary and secondary schools; technical training and vocational education; adult and non-formal education; cultural activities; markets and fairs; health and family welfare; women and child development, social welfare including welfare of the handicapped and mentally retarded; welfare of the weaker sections and in retarded; welfare of the weaker sections and in particular of the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes; maintenance of community assets; public distribution systems; rural electrification, co-operation; libraries and such other functions as may be entrusted by the State Government.

The main sources of income of the panchayat samities are; local rate, fees derived from schools and markets, fee from fairs and shows, rents and profits accruing from properties vested in it, and such money and grants which Government ma place at their disposal. Besides, each panchayat samiti can, with the permission of the zila parishad, can, with the permission of the zila parishad, impose any tax which the State Legislature has power to impose under the Constitution.

Zila Parishad– Prior to the formation of zila parishads in the State, their functions were performed by district boards. These were constituted and administered under the Punjab district board Act, 1883. The district boards used to attend to the development activities of the rural areas just as the municipality looked after the urban areas.

The Zila Parishad, Faridkot was constituted on 1 March 1975, under the Punjab panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishad Act, 1961. This Act has been replaced by the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994. The composition of the Zila Parishad has been detailed under section 162 of the Act of 1994. The reservation of seats of zila parishad has been given in section 165 of the Act.

The main functions zila parishad are: agriculture; irrigation, groundwater resource and watershed development; horticulture; statistics; rural electrification including distribution of electricity; distribution of essential commodities; soil conservation; marketing social forestry; animal husbandry and dairying; minor forest produce and fuel and fodder; fishers; household and small roads, health and hygiene; rural housing; education social welfare and welfare of weaker sections; poverty alleviation programmes; social reforms activities; verification of weights and measures in shopping establishments and promotion of thrift and savings.

The Zila Parishad , Faridkot, does not impose any tax. The income of the Zila Parishad accrues from the Central and State Government funds allotted to it, grant from al India bodies and institutions for the development of cottage and small-scale industries, share of the land revenue, State taxes, income from endowments and such contributions as income from endowments and such contributions as the Zila Parishad may levy on the panchayat samitis.

The income and expenditure of the Zila Parishad, Faridkot during 1975-76 and 1985-86 to 1992-93 is given below:

Year	Income (Rs)	Expenditure (Rs)
1975-76	31,812	32,276
1985-86	39,43,467	48,72,971
1986-87	8,46,590	16,39,578
1987-88	10,93,785	14,01,803
1988-89	34,14,974	16,90,412
1989-90	19,51,970	24,92,613
1990-91	27,66,102	22,17,338
1991-92	26,08,060	24,67,881
1992-93	12,10,954	21,53,955

(Source: Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Faridkot)

APPENDIX-I

Income and Expenditure of Municipalities in Faridkot District during 1975-76, 1980-81,1985-86, 1988-89 to 1992-93

Name of municipality	Particulars	1975-76	1980-81	1985-86	1988-89	1989-90	1990-91	1991-92	1992-93
Faridkot	Income	3,040	2,289	5,552	7,369	7,730	11,321	13,250	12,745
	Expenditure	3,009	3,248	6,577	7,322	7,789	10,709	12,289	13,167
Kot Kapura	Income	3,315	11,298	21,862	28,025	29,945	34,669	42,412	48,524
	Expenditure	4,884	11,060	21,919	27,410	27,737	30,399	37,643	44,292
Jaito	Income	1,595	1,586	3,692	7,270	5,769	11,764	11,353	10,533
	Expenditure	1,559	1,586	3,865	6,248	6,255	9,684	12,874	10,313
Moga	Income	4,607	12,228	19,240	26,053	27,144	35,477	36,796	34,446
	Expenditure	4,959	12,228	19,240	26,053	27,144	35,477	36,796	34,446
Muktsar	Income	2,643	3,157	5,570	8,508	7,496	11,712	10,182	16,372
	Expenditure	2,010	4,425	5,635	7,941	8,152	11,096	9,640	14,365
Malaut	Income	3,445	3,323	6,979	14,685	10,348	14,336	29,567	15,205
	Expenditure	3,519	3,196	7,983	14,628	10,473	14,324	13,458	14,541
Giddarbaha	Income	1,058	2,457	3,462	6,427	6,626	8,659	10,172	10,418
	Expenditure	1,089	2,453	3,187	6,511	6,554	8,023	8,623	11,558
Bagha purana	Income	---	774	1,866	2,609	2,525	4,208	3,890	5,411
	Expenditure	---	739	1,861	2,554	2,490	3,880	3,678	4,761

(Statistical Abstracts of Punjab 1976, 1981, 1986 and 1989 to 1993)

CHAPTER XV

EDUCATION AND CULTURE

	CONTENTS
F	History Background
F	Literacy and Educational standards
F	General Education
F	Professional and Technical Education
F	Physical Education
F	Cultivation of Fine Arts
F	Oriental Schools and Colleges
F	Education for the Handicapped
F	Adult Literacy Social Measures for the Diffusion of Education and Culture among the Masses
F	Cultural and Literary Societies and Periodicals
F	Libraries Museums etc.

(a) History Background

Faridkot District comprises the territories of erstwhile Faridkot Princely State, Jaito area of erstwhile Nabha princely State, Chirak Pargana of erstwhile Kalsia Princely State and Moga and Muktsar tahsils of Firozpur District which were ruled by the Britishers. As the major portion of the district comprised the territories of British ruled area and erstwhile Princely State of Faridkot, so the different system of education prevailing in those areas is described below:

Before the advent of the British, education was mostly in the private hands. It was imparted through pathshalas or madrasahs. Since the area was earlier ruled by the Muslims, Urdu was the medium of instruction in the schools. This was also the official script used in the courts and for maintaining revenue records. The main object of education in those days appears to have been religious. In some villages, mostly populated by the sikhs, the Gurumikhi script was taught in the schools, and in Gurumukhi script was taught in the schools, and in dharamsala, religious instruction was imparted the primary object of all education at that time was to train the students in the performance of religious duties in the prescribed manner. The gurudwara in village Deodhar (tahsil Moga), was once famous for classical Indian Music. It was also known by the name `Dohar` of the blind. There were three systems of education, viz. the Brahmin system, which became obsolete and rare, the Muslim system which taught Arabic, Persian and urdu in maktabs and mosques, and the Sikh system which taught Punjabi in the Gurumukhi script. Individual teaching also existed, especially among the higher classes. It was looked upon as a family process. The simple lande or mahajan script was also taught in homes or at shops. In the second half of the 19^th Century regular primary schools were opened in the district. A primary schools in village buttar (tahsil Moga) was opened in 1858 by the efforts of Sodhi Man Singh an Honorary Magistrate. it was raised to middle standard in 1870. Later on, primary schools were opened at Badhni (tahsil Moga) and Muktsar on the English pattern. These were recognized by the Punjab Education Department and a uniform syllabus comprising the teachings in Persian, Urdu, Arithmetic and algebra was prescribed. In order to overcome the handicap of non-availability of trained teachers at Moga was established in 1911. In 1915, there existed Municipal Vernacular Middle Schools at Dharmkot and Buttar. Anglo-Sanskrit Schools were functioning at Muktsar and Dharmkot and Anglo-Vernacular Khalsa School at Moga.

The passage of the Punjab Education Act, 1918, and the Compulsory Education Act, 1919, gave a fillip to primary education. As a result the number of primary schools increased and many schools were upgraded.

The pioneer of modern education in the erstwhile Faridkot Princely State was Raja Bikram Singh. He was an enlightened ruler who fully realized the value of education for an individual as well as for social uplift. In 1875, he opened elementary schools. One of these schools was raised elementary schools. One of these schools was raised to the status of middle standard by him. After his death his successor Raja Balbir Singh raised the status of this State Middle School to the status of an Anglo-Vernacular Middle School was also functioning at Kot Kapura.

Raja Harinder Singh attached great importance to education. He considered it most essential for the further development of his State. In 1934 when he assumed power directly there was only one high school having separate wings for boys and girls, 5 middle schools, one lower middle school, 47 primary schools and two aided private schools. The total strength of staff and students in 1934 was 126 and 3,600 respectively. By 1948 the State had established three colleges, more than a dozen high schools, and primary schools in almost all villages. All colleges of the State were located at Faridkot proper. These were Brijindra College, Bikram College of Commerce (shifted to Patiala in 1955) and Training College. In addition, the Brijindra College ran agricultural classes.

On the formation of PEPSU in 1948 the education system of State further strengthened. After the merger of PEPSU in Punjab in 1956, the educational pattern of Punjab became applicable to this area also. The Punjab Government took a bold step of provincialising the schools maintained by the local bodies on 1 October 1957. This step was a landmark in the post Independence history of education. Education has been made free in all the Government Schools upto the middle standard. The number of educational institutions in the Faridkot District, as on 30 September 1992 included 16 Colleges, 60 senior secondary schools (10+2 pattern), 203 high schools, 110 middle schools and 759 primary schools.

(b) Literacy and Educational Standards

As per the 1991 Census the district has recorded a substantially lower literacy rate of 46 per cent as against the corresponding State literacy rate of 58.51 per cent. The literacy rate was 56.88 per cent for males and 36.11 per cent for females as compared to the State literacy rate 65.66 per cent for males and 50.41 per cent for females. According to the 1981 Census the literacy rate was 32.29 per cent (39.46 for males and 24.17 for females) as compared to 40.86 per cent (47.16 for males and 33.69 females) of the Punjab State. The literacy rate has however, shown an increase of 15.17 per cent during 1981-91. Although the district has made improvement in literacy rate during the last decade, yet it continues to be backward as compared to other districts of the State. The lowest literacy rate of 43.03 per cent has however, been recorded for Bathinda District and the highest 70.74 per cent in respect of Hoshiarpur District of the State. Efforts have been made for universalization of primary education by maximum enrolment of students in schools.

The following table shows the progress of schools education in the district during 1975. 1980, 1985 and 1990 to 1992: -

Progress of school education in the Faridkot District 1975, 1980, 1985 and 1990 to 1992

(As on 30 September)

Number of Institutions
S.No.	Type of Schools	1975		1980		1985		1990		1991		1992
		B	G	B	G	B	G	B	G	B	G	B	G
1	Primary Schools	483	5	739	---	735	1	751	16	740	16	744	15
2	Middle Schools	121	14	112	11	104	6	102	7	102	8	102	8
3	High Schools	94	12	168	15	100	24	194	24	188	20	183	20
4	Higher Secondary Schools (Old Pattern/Senior Secondary Schools (10+2) Pattern	14	8	13	8	13	8	30	15	40	14	46	14
Total		712	39	1032	34	952	39	1077	62	1070	58	1075	57

(Statistical Abstracts of Punjab 1976,1981, 1986 and 1990 to 1993)

Educational Societies Rendering Service in the Field of Education

Other educational societies and philanthropic endowments rendering valuable service in the field of education in the Faridkot District, besides the State, are described below:

Arya Prathinidhi Sabha– It was registered on 24 December 1895 at Jalandhar. Under section 28 of the constitution of this Sabha, it has constituted Arya Vidya Parishad, Punjab on 2 March 1976 to look after the educational institutions in the State. During 1992-93 the Sabha was running 65 schools/colleges in the State. In the Faridkot District it was running 9 educational institutions namely D. M. College, Moga, D. M. College of Education, Moga, D. A. V. Girls High School Faridkot, Arya Girls Senior Secondary School, Faridkot, Arya Girls High School Giddarbaya, Arya Model High School, Kot Kapura, Arya Model High school, Moga and D. M. Model Senior Secondary School, Moga.

Dev Samaj– The society came into existence in 1857. It has also played an important role in the spread of education and social uplift of women in the district. During 1992-93 it was running two Senior Secondary Schools at Moga in the district.

Sanatan Dharam Sabha – This is another society which is rendering useful service in the field of education in the district. The educational institutions being run by this society in the district during 1992-93 are: S. D. College for Women Moga, S. D. Senior Secondary School Moga, M. R. S. D. High School Faridkot, S. D. Putri Pathshala, Kot Kapura and S. D. Middle School at Muktsar. Now these institutions are under the management of the local committees.

Sikh Societies– A large number of educational institutions from middle to the postgraduate level are being run by Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee and other Sikh Societies. These societies have played a vital role and contributing whole heartedly in promoting education in the district since ling. These are running quite a number of schools/colleges in the district. Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee is also active in furthering this cause either by taking over some, educational institutions or by giving financial assistance. These societies are running 5 Colleges, 4 Senior Secondary Schools, 5 High Schools and 2 Middle Schools at different places in the district.

Christian Mission– Christian Missionaries are running two high schools at Moga.

Besides the above bodies a number of other societies and philanthropic and religious associations are also running educational institutions at various places in the district.

Women’s Education

Before the advent of British, women education was generally ignored. People were not willing to send their female wards to the schools. Only religious books were taught to the girls. The girls learnt reading and writing from the indigenous institutions according to their religion.

With the passage of time, the need for educating the females picked up. Schools were started exclusively for girls by some educational societies as well as by the administration, both in area falling in the British territory and in the area of erstwhile Faridkot Princely State. In 1915, girls schools were functioning at Mehraj, Moga, Butter, Kokri Kalan, Lopon, Muktsar Mehne, Thandewala (all Gurumukhi schools), Moga (Hindi school), Faridkot and Kot Kapura. After the Independence the outlook of the parents has changed in favour of female education. The Compulsory Primary Education act, 1960, has made it obligatory on parent’s to send their girls of the age-group of 6 and above to schools. More facilities were provided to the girls students and only lady teachers were appointed in girls schools. In 1911 only one per cent females were literate in the British area falling in the present Faridkot District and 0.1 per cent females were literate in the area of erstwhile Faridkot Princely State. In 1951 the female literacy rate was 26.87 per cent which increased to 41.50 per cent in 1991. Most of the educational institutions in the district are co-educational. However, as on 30 September 1992 there were 5 Colleges, 14 senior secondary schools, 20 high schools, 8 middle schools and 15 primary schools exclusively for girls in the district. As many as 21,573, 26,893, 6,676 and 79,814 girls were studying in the senior secondary, high, middle and primary schools respectively in the district on the same date.

Education of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes

After the Independence the Government formulated the policy which aimed at raising the general level of literacy of the members of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes. In deference to the special provision laid down in the Constitution, seats were reserved in professional and technical institutions for these classes. They were exempted from payment of tution fees etc. Government has introduced various welfare schemes under which these students are provided free books, stipends and scholarships in all the educational institutions. Students desirous of getting higher education in law, medicine and engineering are given grants for the purchase of costly books. Two Zonal Coaching Centres at Patiala and S. A. S. Nagar are providing free boarding and lodging and free books in order to prepare the Scheduled Castes students for I. A. S., I. P. S. and other allied services.

The financial assistance given to the students belonging to the Scheduled Castes and backward Classes in the district during the years 1975-76, 1980-81 and 1985-86 to 1992-93 is given in the following table: -

Number of Students benefited
Year	Total amount disbursed (Rs)	Scheduled Castes	Backward Classes
1975-76	4,76,215	6,280	7,615
1980-81	15,80,215	8,315	11,215
1985-86	17,29,210	8,420	10,280
1986-87	20,69,240	8,159	9,892
1987-88	22,79,615	9,518	10,280
1988-89	24,32,810	10,225	13,600
1989-90	27,35,915	11,315	12,870
1990-91	30,87,695	13,273	11,496
1991-92	31,40,890	12,895	16,226
1992-93	34,36,295	14,190	17,041

(Source: District Education Office, Faridkot)

The following table shows the number of students belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes studying in different schools in Faridkot District as on 30 September 1992: --

Number of Scheduled Castes Number of Backward Classes Students Students
Type of Schools	Boys	Girls	Total	Boys	Girls	Total
Primary/ Junior Basic Schol	41,323	28,924	70,247	11,799	10,290	22,089
Middle/Senior Basic Schools	1,829	939	2,768	2,028	1,720	3,648
High/Post Basic Schools	8,790	4,109	12,899	2,394	2,586	4,980
Senior Secondary	5,068	2,934	8,002	4,109	3,174	7,283
Total	57,010	37,906	93,916	20,330	17,780	38,000

(Source: District Education Officer, Faridkot)

Medium of Instruction

With a view to solving the language problem in the State, the Government worked out the Three language Formula to satisfy all sections of the people, replacing the Sachar Formula of 1949. Under the three Language Formula, Punjabi has been made the first language and medium of instruction in government schools at all levels, while Hindi has been made compulsory from the third class and English from the sixth class onward. The privately managed schools have been given the option to retain Punjabi, or Hindi as a medium of instruction. The Punjabi, or Hindi as a medium of instruction. The schools which adopt Hindi as a medium of instruction are required to teach Punjabi as a compulsory language. This solution evolved by the Government has gone a long way in solving the language problems in the State. It has ensured compulsory instruction in Punjabi in all the schools and has enabled the Hindi medium and, as such, the entire school going population in the State has become conversant with both the languages. The status of English language has also been recognized, as it is an international language.

Educational set-up – The set-up of the education department was changed on 8 May 1963 when the District Education Officer was made its overall incharge upto high the higher secondary schools in the district. Again on 1 April 1974 the primary wing was separated and the District Education Officer (Primary) was made in charge of the primary education. Now the district Education Officer (Secondary), Faridkot is controlling and supervising all middle, high and senior secondary schools in the district. He functions under the control of the Director of Public Instructions (secondary) Punjab, through the Circle Education Officer, Nabha (district Patiala). He is assisted by 2 Deputy District Education Officer, 1 Science Supervisor, 1 District Administrative Officer, 1 Section Officer, 1 Auditor, 2 Superintendents, 7 Assistants besides Class III and Class IV staff. District Education Officer (Primary), Faridkot Functions under the Administrative control of the Director of Public Instructions (Primary). He is assisted by 2 Deputy District Education Officers, 12 Block Education Officers, 1 Superintendent, and miscellaneous Class III and Class IV staff.

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