The Punjab Government has sanctioned Rs 16.01 crore for the construction of a new building for Government Senior Secondary School (Co-Ed), Nurmahal.
The sanction brings an end to a two-decade-long wait, following consistent efforts by the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC).
The demand gained momentum through continuous protests by local residents and activist Bal Krishan Bali, including dharnas, repeated appeals to elected representatives and regular social media campaigns calling for a government school for underprivileged students.
The demand dates back to 2006, when the school, originally housed within the Nurmahal Serai-a protected Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) monument-was vacated along with several other offices in a move to preserve the historic site.
While the local thana, the PWD office and the Nagar Council Office were allotted alternate premises soon after, the school was left without a building and was merged with the Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Nurmahal. The abrupt merger resulted in overcrowding and lack of proper infrastructure, with students of Classes 6 to 8 often sharing a single classroom. The shortage of space also forced many male students to travel to Nakodar, Jandiala, Jalandhar and other towns to continue their education.
In 2016, during the tenure of the then Badal government, a grant of Rs 1.14 crore was sanctioned for constructing a new school building at Dussehra Ground, Nurmahal. However, only Rs 57 lakh of the sanctioned amount was utilised before work came to a halt. The project stalled completely as successive governments changed and no further progress was made for years.
The matter resurfaced in 2023 when Jalandhar-based Aditya Bhatara submitted a complaint to the PSHRC on September 20, citing the incomplete school building. Taking cognizance, the Commission issued directions on October 9, 2023 and began seeking reports from the concerned departments. During the course of its inquiry, the Commission received confirmation from the Director, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan Authority, Punjab, that construction had been stalled due to clearance issues from the Department of Cultural Affairs, Archaeology and Archives Museum, Punjab.
The Commission subsequently initiated communication with the Executive Engineer, Construction Division (B&R), Jalandhar and other relevant departments.
A No Objection Certificate (NOC) was eventually secured in 2024, clearing the major hurdle in the process. Following this, a fresh grant of Rs 16.01 crore was sanctioned for the school building, as confirmed in the final report submitted by the Director, School Education (Secondary), Punjab, on July 24, 2025. In view of the developments, the Commission expressed satisfaction that the complainant’s grievance raised in 2023 had been addressed.
Alongside the Commission’s efforts, local residents also staged a five-month-long dharna from September 2023 to January 2024, reiterating their demand for a separate government school building for Nurmahal’s economically weaker students. A key figure in the movement was activist and local journalist Bal Krishan Bali, popularly known as “Bali Akhbaran Vala,” who ran a sustained online campaign to highlight the issue. Bali conducted regular Facebook Lives from the stalled and weed-infested premises, sometimes filming himself on his bicycle, during plantation drives, or next to JCB machines brought in to clear the area-all aimed at compelling authorities to take notice.
Speaking to The Tribune, Bali said, “There are five private schools in Nurmahal. It’s been 20 years since these students had a building of their own. All offices that were shifted from the Serai got proper buildings, but these poor children got nothing. After the merger, there weren’t enough classrooms. Initially, many boys had to go far to Nakodar, Jandiala, Jalandhar and other places to study. One of the electoral promises made by the Nakodar MLA was the completion of this school. She eventually took up the issue steadfastly. But even then, we had to hold countless dharnas to ensure that poor students got a school.”
Chander Shekhar Verma, Principal of Government Senior Secondary School Bundala, who also held additional charge and Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO) powers for the Nurmahal school, said, “The Government Senior Secondary School, Nurmahal was earlier the Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Nurmahal. But when boys from the other school came in, it turned into a Co-Ed school. When the merger happened, there were about 500 students-300 girls and 200 boys. Now we have a strength of about 350 students and very good facilities, including surplus benches for all.”
He added, “An amount of Rs 16 crore has now been sanctioned for the new school following NOCs and efforts of the MLA. Work is ongoing. After the tendering process is completed, we expect the new school to be ready within a year.”
With this major sanction, the students of Nurmahal are finally set to have a dedicated school building-two decades after losing their original premises and enduring years of overcrowding and neglect.