In an unprecedented and landmark initiative, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday created a record by handing over 36524 recruitment letters of the government jobs to the youth of the state merely in 18 months of its stint.
Addressing the gathering during a function to give appointment letters to 427 youth in Power, Education, Forest and other departments, the Chief Minister said that this is a rare feat as none of the previous governments have achieved this milestone in such a short span of its tenure.
He said that in the last 25 days since August 30 the state government has given appointment letters to 7660 youth of the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these include 5714 Anganwari workers, 710 Patwaris, 560 Police, 249 and 427 in various other departments.
The Chief Minister said that a foolproof mechanism has been adopted for the entire recruitment process due to which not even a single appointment out of these more than 36000 have been challenged so far in the court.
He said that it is a proud moment for the government of Punjab that these youth have been given government jobs completely on the basis of merit. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the sole aim is to ensure that the youth of the state become an active partner in the social economic growth of the state.
The Chief Minister said that by giving these jobs in the first 18 months of its tenure the state government has set a record of providing government service to 2000 youth every month. He said that it is a record as none of the previous governments have given so many jobs to youth especially in the initial months of its tenure.
Bhagwant Singh Mann reiterated that merit and transparency have been the twin pillars based on which jobs have been given to the youth across the state.The Chief Minister exhorted the newly recruited youth to serve the people with missionary zeal as now they have become integral part of the government.
Bhagwant Singh Mann hoped that the new recruits will use their pen for helping the needy and underprivileged sections of society. He said that the newly recruited youth should ensure maximum welfare of the public so that every section of society is benefited from it.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the youth should feel proud as they are becoming a team of the state government which is working untiringly for carving out a new Punjab. He said that the state government has been conducting this recruitment drive in a transparent manner and jobs are being given only to deserving and needy candidates.
Bhagwant Singh Mann said that neither any recommendation nor any other tantrum except merit is working in this recruitment drive.The Chief Minister said that this venue has witnessed a number of such events in which youth have got jobs in various government departments.
He said that this reflects the commitment of the state government to ensure the well being of youth and opening new avenues of employment for them. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction for him that all the youth have been selected for these posts purely on the basis of merit.
The Chief Minister said that as runways at the airports facilitate an Airplane for its smooth take off in the same manner the state government is helping the youth to realize their dreams. He asserted that every effort is being made to give wings to the ideas of youth and no stone is being left unturned for this noble cause.
Bhagwant Singh Mann made a fervent appeal to youth to make all out efforts for carving an identity of their own to make a place in society adding that sky's the limit for them.The Chief Minister said that during the earlier tenures these runways were merely used by affluent people to set their own families.
However, he said that now these runways have been opened for the youth of common families by his government. Bhagwant Singh Mann urged the youth to take maximum mileage of these runways for making progress in life thereby ushering a new era of prosperity.
The Chief Minister bemoaned that during the previous regimes people used to be scared of success as the earlier rulers used to pressurize them for putting their share in ventures. He said that these leaders looted the masses, especially the successful industrialists.
Bhagwant Singh Mann said that several restrictions were imposed on industrialists and then also they were branded as thieves by previous state governments. The Chief Minister exhorted newly recruited employees to work with sheer honesty for the welfare of Punjab and its people as they also got the jobs on basis of merit.
He said that with the sincere efforts of the Punjab government, the process of reverse the brain drain from the state has already started. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab government has been working diligently to fulfill the dream of making the state again as Rangla Punjab and bring back the lost glory of the state.
Reiterating that the Punjab government has zero tolerance against the corruption, the Chief Minister said that he is keeping a close tab on all officials working to ensure smooth and transparent governance in the state.
On the occasion Cabinet Ministers Harbhajan Singh ETO, Lal Chand Kataruchak and Harjot Singh Bains along with others were also present.