From Empty Land to Endless Possibilities: HMEL’s Community Initiative is Shaping the Future of Village Gyana’s Youth

July 16, 2026

Bathinda: Every evening, as the sun sets over Village Gyana, the silence inside the Panchayat Library is broken only by the sound of pages turning and keyboards clicking. Some young aspirants are preparing for SSC CGL and banking examinations, while others dream of becoming government teachers, joining the Punjab Police, or serving the nation through the Indian Army under the Agniveer scheme.

Just a few steps away, another group of youngsters is pushing themselves in a modern gym. After completing their workout, many of them head straight to the library to continue their studies. This routine has become a way of life for the village youth—a transformation made possible through a thoughtful community initiative by HMEL’s Guru Gobind Singh Refinery.

Today, the well-equipped gym and modern Panchayat Library have emerged as the village’s learning and fitness hub, proving that when the right opportunities and environment are created, aspirations can truly take flight.

A Transformation That Began with an Empty Piece of Land
The story of this remarkable change began in 2022–23, when HMEL, in collaboration with the Village Youth Club, took the initiative to transform an unused Panchayat land into a vibrant community space. The neglected site was enclosed with a boundary wall, an old room was renovated, and a modern gym equipped with fitness machines was established. Simultaneously, HMEL supported the Panchayat in strengthening the library by providing furniture, book racks, coolers, and other essential facilities, creating a comfortable and inspiring learning environment.

Initially, young people visited the premises only for physical fitness. Gradually, the peaceful atmosphere of the adjoining library attracted them towards academics as well. Today, many students attend online classes, prepare for competitive examinations, and make use of the available books, especially Punjabi literature and grammar resources.

A Daily Wage Labourer’s Son Becomes the First Government Teacher in the Family
Among the many inspiring stories emerging from this initiative is that of Jeevan Singh. Coming from a family where his father worked as a daily wage labourer, Jeevan always aspired to become a government teacher despite limited financial resources. After completing his ETT from DIET Bathinda and graduation, he began preparing for teacher recruitment examinations.

Finding it difficult to study at home, he made the Panchayat Library his regular study centre.
“The peaceful environment here helped me stay focused. The Punjabi literature and grammar books available in the library proved extremely useful during my preparation for the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET),” says Jeevan. His hard work paid off in April 2025, when he was selected as a Government Primary School Teacher. He is currently serving at Government Primary School, Talwandi Raiyan, Hoshiarpur.

“My father worked as a labourer. Becoming the first government teacher in my family is a dream fulfilled—not just for me, but for my entire family,” he proudly shares.

From Gym Sessions to Uniformed Services: Two Brothers Find Their Path
Another inspiring success story belongs to Sukhwinder Singh and his younger brother Gurlal Singh. After completing his B.Sc., Sukhwinder aspired to join the Punjab Police. Initially, he came to the HMEL-supported gym solely for physical training. Soon, he realized that the nearby library offered the perfect environment for academic preparation as well.

He began attending online coaching sessions and studying there regularly. Inspired by him, his younger brother Gurlal also joined.
The brothers developed a disciplined routine—physical training in the gym followed by hours of study in the library.

“We used to work out in the gym and then spend several hours preparing for our competitive examinations in the library. It became our second home,” recalls Sukhwinder.

Their dedication produced remarkable results. In January 2026, Sukhwinder was selected for the Punjab Police and is currently undergoing training in Kapurthala. Gurlal fulfilled his dream by joining the Indian Army. The success of the two brothers, whose father is also a daily wage labourer, has become a powerful source of inspiration for other youth in the village.

A New Culture of Learning is Taking Shape
The impact of these success stories is now visible across Village Gyana. Every evening, nearly a dozen young aspirants gather in the library to prepare for competitive examinations. Beyond studying, they motivate one another, exchange study material, discuss strategies, and learn from each other’s experiences.

Among them, Diljit Singh and Lovepreet Singh are preparing to join the Army through the Agniveer scheme. Lakhvir Singh is preparing for SSC CGL, Manjeet Singh is working towards banking examinations, while Shammi Singh is preparing for PSSSB and teacher recruitment examinations.

Village youth Veer Davinder Singh believes the success of these candidates has transformed the mindset of the younger generation.
“Earlier, we had no common place where we could study peacefully. Today, every evening, young people gather here with a purpose, a goal, and the confidence that success is possible.”

Building Futures Beyond Infrastructure
The transformation of Village Gyana demonstrates that meaningful development is not measured only by constructing buildings—it is measured by creating opportunities that empower people to dream, prepare, and succeed.
What was once an empty stretch of land has today become a centre of learning, discipline, fitness, and aspiration