Bathinda, Oct. 10 -- Chief minister Bhagwant Mann laid the foundation stone for setting up 3,100 multi-sports stadiums across the state during a function at Kaljharani village in Bathinda district on Thursday. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal was also present on the occasion. The project cost is pegged at Rs.1,194 crore. Addressing a gathering, Mann said that the initiative is a part of the state government's push to strengthen rural sports infrastructure and nurture young sporting talent. "These multi-purpose stadiums will be built to provide modern training facilities for a variety of sports, including hockey, volleyball, football, and athletics. It will encourage youth to adopt a healthy lifestyle and stay away from drugs," the CM said, adding that the existing sports facilities were inadequate. He said that the mega initiative will bring back the sporting glory of Punjab. "Punjab has produced many sportspersons who have made the nation proud. It is a matter of pride that Punjabis are the captains of national sports teams like cricketer Shubham Gill, women cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur, and hockey player Harmandeep Singh," CM Mann added. Former Delhi CM and AAP head Kejriwal said that the new initiative to promote sports is an extension of the AAP government's flagship campaign "Yudh Nashian Virudh." "Mann-led Punjab government has a zero tolerance against drugs," Kejriwal said. He further added that the Punjab model of development is focused on empowering people, be it in education, healthcare, or sports. "These stadiums will not only produce champions but also create a healthy and disciplined young generation. The Mann government's transparent and people-centric policies are transforming Punjab. We are delivering what others only promised," he said. Later in the day, Mann and Kejriwal introduced Entrepreneurship Mindset Course (EMC) for educational institutes, including universities, industrial training institutes (ITIs) and polytechnic colleges, across the state. The aim is to make the state a land of job givers instead of job seekers, the government stated. "From the academic year 2025-26, the course will be implemented in universities, ITIs and polytechnic colleges across the state. From the 2026-27 academic year, this course will be linked to all other degree programmes. It will be mandatory in every semester, enabling each student to learn how to conduct business practically," Kejriwal said. CM said this is the new model of the emerging world and aims to provide real knowledge....