Punjab : In a significant welfare-oriented move to promote inclusive education, the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has approved a complete waiver of training fees for orphaned and visually impaired students enrolled in the Computer Operator and Programming Assistant (COPA-VI) course at Government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
The decision was confirmed after the official proposal received clearance, with Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stating that the initiative underlines the Punjab Government resolve to ensure that economic hardship does not limit access to skill-based education for vulnerable groups.
Under the new policy, students from orphanages and schools for the visually impaired will receive a 100 percent exemption from training fees for the COPA-VI trade. The benefit will be extended to all nine government ITIs currently offering the course across Punjab.
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Explaining the Punjab Government approach, Cheema said that although the fee waiver entails a financial commitment, it is being viewed as a long-term investment in human resource development rather than a loss of revenue. He added that the proposal was deliberated in detail during the budget discussions held on January 29, 2026, and was approved after careful evaluation of the administrative department’s recommendations to make technical education more inclusive.
Reaffirming the state’s focus on skill development and digital empowerment, the Finance Minister said the initiative aims to provide specially-abled and orphaned youth with equal opportunities to gain technical skills. By easing their financial burden, the Punjab Government hopes to help them build sustainable careers and secure dignified employment in the expanding information technology sector.