Ludhiana, July 21 -- The distribution of school bags for Class 11 and 12 students in government schools has begun across districts, but the initiative has drawn criticism from teachers and opposition leaders who accused the state government of turning an educational initiative into a publicity exercise by printing the chief minister's photograph on the bags.

According to a letter issued by the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) on July 17 to the director of school education, the bags were prepared on the directions of the Punjab government and made available at the PSEB regional centres for further distribution to schools. In another communication dated July 20, the directorate of school education instructed the district education offi...