DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday continued his initiative to provide government jobs to the youth by completing the process of handing over appointment letters to 54,422 individuals.

"I stand here today to distribute job letters to 281 newly selected youth, which is a testament to my government's commitment to providing jobs in a fair and transparent manner," said the Chief Minister.

Addressing the gathering after distributing the appointment letters, the Chief Minister stated that the corrupt and regressive policies of previous regimes had jeopardized the future of the state's youth. He said many young people received jobs late because earlier governments had shown no real concern for employment generation, betraying the people of Punjab. Bhagwant Singh Mann asserted that while the families of these political leaders are well-settled, they left no stone unturned to damage the careers of ordinary youth.

In contrast, the Chief Minister highlighted that the state government has recruited 54,141 candidates across various departments since April 1, 2022. He said that with the current batch, this figure has now reached 54,422. Calling it a historic day ? both due to its astronomical significance as the longest day of the year and for the new recruits, Bhagwant Singh Mann emphasised that these jobs were earned through hard work adding that this is not their last job opportunity as the government is preparing to offer many more.

Bhagwant Singh Mann accused traditional political leaders of colluding behind the scenes for personal gains while pretending to oppose each other in public. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that These leaders spit venom against one another from public stages but embrace each other at private functions ? exposing their hypocrisy. "In villages, people fight over political differences while the leaders attend each other's celebrations," he said.

The Chief Minister reaffirmed that all recruitments have been made purely on merit, with candidates clearing competitive exams. He said the core agenda of his government has been to empower the youth by integrating them into governance, thus enabling them to contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the state and country. He urged the new recruits to serve the people with a missionary zeal, describing them as now being integral parts of the government.

The Chief Minister expressed hope that they would use their positions to help the underprivileged and contribute to public welfare. Comparing the government's support to airport runways that enable planes to take flight, Bhagwant Singh Mann said the state administration is helping youth achieve their ambitions by leaving no stone unturned in this noble mission. He encouraged the youth to carve out their own identities and strive to leave their mark in society.

"The sky's the limit," the Chief Minister remarked, while urging them to remain grounded and believe in the power of hard work ? the true key to success. He appealed to them to stay in Punjab and explore the vast opportunities the state has to offer. In a major push for youth empowerment, Bhagwant Singh Mann announced the establishment of UPSC coaching centers across Punjab.

The Chief Minister said that These centers will be equipped with libraries, hostels, and other essential facilities to provide quality training for national-level competitive exams. Bhagwant Singh Mann stressed that these initiatives will ensure Punjab's youth are well-prepared to excel at the national stage. He also criticized the political parties previously in power for merely playing "musical chairs" to loot the state every five years.

The Chief Minister said the people have now chosen his government to serve them, and they are working hard to meet public expectations. He pointed out that opposition leaders criticize him daily out of envy over his government's pro-people policies. He emphasized that his government is striving to ensure every state employee receives a respectable salary, enabling them to live with dignity.

(editor@dailyworld.in)