Chandigarh, August 9
Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former Education Minister of Punjab, Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, today said that Punjab was facing a serious employment and service-related crisis under the AAP government, with both serving employees and unemployed youth struggling with unresolved issues.
Dr. Cheema said that those already in government service were fighting for their legitimate rights, while a large number of unemployed youth were waiting for a fair, transparent and reliable recruitment system.
Dr. Cheema said regular government employees were demanding restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), payment of pending DA/DR and other legitimate service benefits. “The government cannot continue to postpone these issues or merely make assurances without announcing a clear and time-bound roadmap for their resolution,” he said.
Dr. Cheema said contractual and outsourced employees were also seeking regularisation and timely payment of salaries, while employees engaged under centrally sponsored schemes such as MGNREGA were raising concerns relating to job security, salaries and service conditions. He said the government needed to address these issues through a comprehensive policy instead of dealing with each agitation separately.
The SAD leader said the concerns of unemployed youth were equally serious. Recruitment delays, changes in eligibility and age limits, examination paper leaks and allegations of irregularities in various recruitment processes had created uncertainty among thousands of aspirants. “Young people who spend years preparing for government examinations have a right to expect a recruitment system that is transparent, predictable and free from irregularities,” he added.
Dr. Cheema demanded that the AAP government immediately issue a comprehensive White Paper on Punjab’s employment and recruitment situation. The document should provide details of pending DA/DR arrears, the status of OPS, contractual and outsourced employees, workers engaged under centrally sponsored schemes, vacant posts, recruitment timelines and the status of inquiries into alleged recruitment and examination irregularities.
Dr. Cheema said Punjab’s youth needed jobs, government employees needed justice and all sections deserved clear answers and time-bound action instead of empty assurances.