Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday highlighted his administration's significant achievement in public sector recruitment, stating that over 61,000 government positions have been filled in the past four years through a process committed to merit and transparency.
A Milestone in Transparent Recruitment
The Chief Minister made these remarks while personally distributing appointment letters to 606 new recruits of the state's education department at a ceremony. Since assuming office in April 2022, the Aam Aadmi Party government has provided 61,281 government jobs, a feat Mann presented as a cornerstone of its governance model.
"It is a matter of pride that every single appointment has been made purely on merit and transparency, and not even one has been challenged in court," Mann asserted. He contrasted this with the past, alleging that previous governments distributed jobs among "their sons, nephews, and favourites" instead of respecting merit.
Focus on Inclusive Education and Special Needs
The latest batch of 606 appointees includes 385 special educator teachers, 157 primary teachers, eight principals, and 56 employees recruited on compassionate grounds. Mann announced a key reform: the creation of a separate cadre of special educator teachers for children with special needs in government schools.
"Around 48,000 children with special needs are currently enrolled in government schools. To ensure quality education for them, we have appointed 385 teachers under this special cadre," he explained. He told the new special educators that their duty was not only to teach but also to "serve humanity," playing a role greater than parents in shaping the children's future.
Global Training and Infrastructure Push
Detailing efforts to raise educational standards, Mann said the state is training its teachers at global benchmarks. 234 principals and officers trained in Singapore, 249 head teachers at IIM Ahmedabad, and 216 primary teachers at Finland's Turku University.
Furthermore, the government is establishing 118 'Schools of Eminence' aimed at transforming prospects for underprivileged children. Initiatives like providing free uniforms and launching free bus services for girls are ensuring better access, the CM added.
Echoing the progress, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains noted a stark improvement in infrastructure. While nearly four lakh students out of 28 lakh had to sit on the ground in government schools in 2022, "today, not a single child is without proper seating." The free bus service for girls benefits nearly 10,000 students daily.
Mann concluded by emphasizing that the current recruitment system has opened doors for youth from ordinary families, ensuring that "young people from every village, town, and city of Punjab get jobs purely on merit."
