MP Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal Urges Centre to Stop Privatisation of BBMB DAV Public School, Talwara

Hoshiarpur/Daljeet Ajnoha/Feb 5
Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal, Member of Parliament from Hoshiarpur, has met personally and formally urged the Union Minister of Power, Shri Manohar Lal Khattar, to intervene and prevent the proposed privatisation/closure of BBMB DAV Public School, Talwara, in Hoshiarpur district.

Raising serious concerns over the future of nearly 1,200 students currently studying in the institution, Dr. Chabbewal stated that the school, which functions under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Power through the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), has been providing affordable and quality education for over four decades. The school caters to students from Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, including families who sacrificed land, homes, and livelihoods for the construction of the Pong Dam.

Dr. Chabbewal highlighted that the school has a distinguished legacy, having produced students who went on to serve the nation in premier institutions and sectors such as IITs, AIIMS, ISRO, defence services, civil aviation, and the Chandrayaan mission.

He termed it “deeply ironic” that despite record power generation from the Pong Dam, the school is being labelled a financial burden.
The MP emphasized that the proposed decision has caused severe anxiety among students, parents, and teachers, affecting both education and mental well-being. For the past six months, stakeholders associated with the school have been continuously protesting to save the institution.

Dr. Chabbewal has appealed to the Union Minister to cancel the decision to hand over the management of the school to private or other educational institutions and to maintain the existing arrangement in the larger interest of students and their families. “The future of our children cannot be compromised in the name of financial unsustainability. Institutions like BBMB DAV Public School are not expenses but investments in nation-building,” Dr. Chabbewal stated.
He expressed hope that the Central Government would take a compassionate and forward-looking decision, keeping in mind the educational rights and future of the affected students.