CHANDIGARH-In a major pro-people decision aimed at empowering underprivileged sections of society, the Punjab Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has approved a proposal to waive training fees for orphans and visually impaired students enrolled in the Computer Operator and Programming Assistant (COPA-VI) trade across Government Industrial Training Institutes.
Confirming the decision after clearing the official file, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “The move reflects the Bhagwant Mann Government’s firm commitment to ensuring that financial constraints do not become a barrier to the professional growth of vulnerable students.”
The Minister stated that students coming from orphanages and schools for the blind will now be eligible for a 100 percent fee waiver for the COPA-VI trade, and this benefit will be implemented across nine government institutions currently running the course.
Explaining the rationale behind the decision, Harpal Singh Cheema noted, “While the fee waiver involves a revenue commitment, the government views it as a vital investment in human capital rather than a financial burden. The proposal was discussed in detail during the budget meetings held on January 29, 2026, where the administrative department’s recommendation was thoroughly examined and approved to ensure that technical education remains accessible to every segment of society.”
“Our government is dedicated to making Punjab a leader in skill development and digital literacy, ” Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said. “By removing the financial burden for our specially-abled and orphaned youth in the COPA-VI trade, we are providing them a fair platform to acquire technical expertise and secure a dignified livelihood in the rapidly growing IT sector.”