Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday reached a significant administrative milestone by distributing appointment letters to 818 newly recruited youth across various state departments. With this latest induction, the total number of government jobs provided under the current administration’s ‘Mission Rozgar’ has reached 65,264 within a span of four years.
The recruitment drive conducted at Vikas Bhawan saw candidates joining the Power Department, Local Government, Health and Family Welfare, and the Department of Medical Education and Research.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Mann emphasized that every single appointment has been made strictly on the basis of merit and transparency, eliminating the culture of bribes and recommendations that he alleged plagued previous regimes.
He noted that for over a decade, successive governments had denied employment opportunities to the youth, effectively destroying the future of a generation. Mann stated that his government’s goal is to replace drug syringes with lunchboxes, providing the youth with dignity and a reason to stay in Punjab rather than seeking employment abroad.
The Chief Minister highlighted that the fair recruitment process has even enabled several candidates to secure multiple government jobs across different departments based on their performance in competitive exams. He cited the example of dental doctors who have been recruited this year after a hiatus of 36 years, with the last recruitment having taken place in 1990. Mann further announced that the recruitment of an additional 1,750 candidates in the Power Department is currently underway and is expected to be completed by June 2026.
Beyond employment, the Chief Minister touched upon various welfare initiatives, including free electricity for over 90% of households and financial assistance for women under the Mukh Mantri Mavaan Dhian Satkar scheme. He took a swipe at opposition leaders, accusing them of being unable to fathom the value of ₹1,000 for a common household. Mann asserted that his government is utilizing the state exchequer solely for public welfare, contrasting his administration’s move to purchase a private thermal plant with the Union Government’s policy of privatizing national assets.
The event featured emotional testimonials from recruits, including Dharminder Singh, a brick kiln laborer who secured a government post, and Sukhmanpreet Singh, who returned from Canada to serve in his home state. Chief Minister Mann concluded by stating that a “reverse migration” is now visible in Punjab, as transparent governance restores the faith of the youth in the state system. He urged the new officers to serve the public with missionary zeal to help realize the vision of a vibrant and prosperous ‘Rangla Punjab.’