A Promise Unfulfilled: Barnala Village Waits for its Nursing College

Imagine the buzz in a quiet village, the collective hope swelling when a Chief Minister personally announces a major educational institution right in your backyard. That's precisely what happened in Sandhu Patti village, nestled in Punjab's Barnala district, back in February 2023. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stood there, promising a state-of-the-art nursing college, slated to open its doors by July of that very year.

Yet, here we are, three years later, and that promising vision remains just that—a vision. The five acres of panchayat land, duly transferred to the higher education department in March 2023 for this very purpose, lies completely untouched. Not a single brick has been laid, no groundbreaking ceremony held, not even a basic boundary wall erected. It's an empty expanse where dreams were meant to take root, now just... an empty expanse.

Sadly, that initial glimmer of hope has, for many villagers, faded into a deep sense of frustration. One can almost hear the sigh in Sarpanch Baljinder Singh's voice as he confirms the land transfer but laments the utter lack of progress. You see, for places like Sandhu Patti, a nursing college isn't just about higher education; it's about a future. It promises employment for local youth, particularly the girls who often face limited options, and a much-needed boost to the local economy. All that potential, currently locked away in a bureaucratic 'under process' file.

It's worth remembering the context of this promise, too. The announcement came during a crucial by-election campaign for the Barnala assembly constituency, with CM Mann personally stumping for AAP candidate Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer. A timely promise, indeed, designed to galvanize support and paint a picture of progress and prosperity for the region.

So, what's the official word on this frustrating delay? Executive Engineer Baldev Singh from the Higher Education Department tells us the project is "under process," patiently awaiting approval for its estimates. Construction, he assures, will commence only after the tenders are floated. Sounds a bit like bureaucracy, doesn't it? Meanwhile, the local MLA, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, tries to reassure everyone, citing "technical reasons" for the holdup and asserting that funds have, in fact, been allocated. He even mentioned a high-level meeting to sort things out. But for the villagers, words ring hollow when there's no visible action on the ground.

Ultimately, the story of the Barnala nursing college is a stark reminder of how political promises, no matter how grand, can sometimes stall. The community of Sandhu Patti, once brimming with anticipation, now simply waits. The clock keeps ticking, and with each passing season, the hope of a brighter, more educated future seems to drift a little further away, leaving behind only the lingering echo of a promise unkept.