Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday asserted that while 93 examination papers had been leaked across the country since 2017, the state of Punjab has not witnessed a single such incident since his government assumed office in 2022. Mann made this statement after distributing appointment letters to 355 newly recruited individuals, bringing the total number of jobs provided by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government to 67,037, as confirmed by a Punjab official.
Merit-Based Recruitment
Mann claimed that for the first time, government jobs in Punjab were being secured purely on merit. He emphasized that the state is following a transparent recruitment process. "Incidents involving major examinations, including NEET, have disappointed and demoralized lakhs of youth. However, after our government assumed office in 2022, not even a single paper leak incident has surfaced in Punjab," he said.
Appointment Letters Distributed
The appointment letters were handed over to candidates recruited in various departments, including technical education, cooperation, local government, water supply and sanitation, animal husbandry, public works, housing and urban development, and others. Sharing updates on social media platform X, Mann stated that Punjab had set an example by ensuring honest recruitment and securing the top position in the nation in the field of education. He further appealed to the newly recruited employees to prioritize the work of senior citizens and common people in government offices. "The AAP government is committed to preventing the migration of youth abroad and providing them with opportunities and wings to progress here in Punjab itself," he added.
Education Reforms Under Sikhya Kranti
Referring to the government's education reforms under the Sikhya Kranti initiative, Mann claimed that Punjab has witnessed a remarkable transformation in the education sector. "When our government assumed office, Punjab was ranked 27th in the country in school education. Today, according to NITI Aayog, Punjab has emerged as the number one state in school education, surpassing states such as Kerala. This achievement was made possible because we invested in strengthening government schools and creating world-class educational infrastructure," he said.
Investment in Skill Development
Mann announced an investment of Rs 20 crore for the modernization of polytechnic colleges. Additionally, the Captain Amol Kalia Centre of Excellence is being established at Nangal at a cost of Rs 23 crore. "This institution will serve as a hub for advanced skill development and industry-oriented training and will help prepare young people for the jobs of the future," he explained.
Regularization of Contractual Employees
Highlighting a recent decision regarding contractual employees, Mann said, "In a welfare-oriented decision, the state government has decided to end the contractual system and begin the process of regularizing the services of around 65,000 employees." This move is expected to provide job security and stability to a large number of workers. The chief minister reiterated his government's commitment to transparent and merit-based recruitment, ensuring that the youth of Punjab are given fair opportunities without any corruption or malpractice.
