Bhagwant Mann urges youngsters living abroad to return, promises regular jobs

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday urged young people from the state who are working abroad to return, saying his government would provide regular employment opportunities and make them partners in Punjab's socio-economic progress.

Speaking at an event where he handed over appointment letters to 665 newly recruited candidates of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited, Mann said transparent recruitment had restored young people's faith in the system and led to reverse migration, with many now choosing to return to Punjab instead of looking for opportunities overseas.

Mann said the state had created a record by providing 68,268 government jobs in four-and-a-half years and had ended the era of cash-for-jobs and recommendations. Targeting previous governments, he said many youngsters had left Punjab and settled abroad, but the trend was now changing.

"Now things have changed. A reflection of this change can be seen from the fact that a woman present here today has got three jobs and is among the successful candidates receiving appointment letters. This is a new era. I urge the youth to call their friends and relatives living abroad and tell them not to search for green pastures in foreign lands but to come back to Punjab and get jobs here," he said.

The Chief Minister said, "The era of cash payments and favouritism has ended in Punjab. Today, youths are getting jobs solely on the basis of merit and eligibility. Government jobs can now be obtained purely on merit and due to the transparent recruitment process adopted by the state government, not even a single appointment has been challenged in court."

He said the newly recruited youngsters should use their positions to serve the needy and underprivileged. "The newly recruited youths should ensure maximum welfare of the public so that every section of society benefits from it. These recruitments have been carried out through a completely transparent process and the youths have secured jobs after clearing examinations in tough competition," he said.

Mann also said the state government had given priority to education and taken major steps in the sector. "No so-called freebie or concession card can eliminate poverty or other social maladies in the state. Education is the key that can pull people out of this vicious cycle by improving their standard of living. Therefore, our government is tirelessly making efforts to improve the standard of education and empower the common people," he said.

He said Punjab had surpassed Kerala, Maharashtra and Delhi to secure the top position in primary and middle-school education. "Our government has upgraded primary and middle-school education, strengthened the system, introduced smart classrooms and provided advanced training to teachers.

As a result of these efforts, Punjab is excelling in the school education sector. NITI Aayog, one of the government of India's premier institutions, has released figures showing that Punjab has surpassed Kerala, Maharashtra and Delhi to secure the number one position in primary and middle-school education," he added.

Mann used the event to link jobs and education, saying transparent recruitment, regular employment and improvements in schooling were aimed at giving Punjab's youth more reasons to build their future in the state.

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