Bathinda, June 23
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said that Punjab continues to emerge as a preferred destination for government jobs, with even youngsters who had moved abroad now returning to the state to secure employment through the transparent and merit-based recruitment policy of his government. While handing over appointment letters to 665 newly recruited candidates in Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), the Chief Minister said that the state has created a record by providing 68,268 government jobs in just four-and-a-half years, completely ending the era of cash-for-jobs and recommendations.
The Chief Minister urged Punjabis working abroad to return to their motherland, assuring them that the state government would provide regular employment opportunities and make them active partners in Punjab’s socio-economic progress. He said that the transparent recruitment process adopted by the government has restored the faith of youth in the system and triggered a reverse migration, with many youngsters now choosing to return to Punjab instead of seeking opportunities elsewhere.
Sharing a few snippets from this, Mann stated: “At the appointment letter distribution ceremony in Bathinda, several major decisions aimed at Punjab’s progress and securing a bright future for its youth were shared. By completely eliminating the corrupt practices of bribery and recommendations followed by previous governments, your government has so far provided 68,288 government jobs to youngsters purely on the basis of merit. Owing to this transparent recruitment policy, even those youth who had moved abroad are now returning to Punjab.
The Chief Minister noted, “Thanks to historic reforms in the education sector, Punjab has today emerged as the number one state in the country in school education. In another major decision aimed at the welfare of government employees, especially women employees, it was announced that after completion of their probation period, they will be posted within a 40-kilometre radius of their homes so that family cohesion and work-life balance can be maintained.”
“Hard work, honesty and public service remain the guiding principles of our government. By providing equal opportunities to every deserving youngster, we are rapidly moving towards the creation of a vibrant and prosperous Rangla Punjab,” the post concluded. Addressing the gathering while handing over appointment letters to the youth, Mann said that due to the rotten system prevailing during previous regimes, many youngsters had left Punjab and settled abroad, but now reverse migration has started in the state. “Now things have changed. A reflection of this change can be seen from the fact that a girl present here today has got three jobs and is among the successful candidates receiving appointment letters. This is a new era. I urge the youth to call their friends and relatives living abroad and tell them not to search for green pastures in foreign lands but to come back to Punjab and get jobs here,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that the state government has provided around 68,268 government jobs to the youth of Punjab. He said, “The era of cash payments and favouritism has ended in Punjab. Today, youth are getting jobs solely on the basis of merit and eligibility. Government jobs can now be obtained purely on merit and due to the transparent recruitment process adopted by the state government, not even a single appointment has been challenged in court.”
The Chief Minister expressed hope that the newly recruited youth would use their positions to serve the needy and underprivileged sections of society. He said, “The newly recruited youth should ensure maximum welfare of the public so that every section of society benefits from it. These recruitments have been carried out through a completely transparent process and the youth have secured jobs after clearing examinations in tough competition.”