Bathinda: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday handed over appointment letters to 665 new recruits of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) during a ceremony in Bathinda. During the event, he said the AAP govt had provided 68,288 govt jobs in four-and-a-half years, ending the era of people landing jobs by paying a bribe or getting recommendations. “Punjab continues to emerge as a preferred destination for govt jobs, with youngsters who had moved abroad now returning to the state to secure employment through the transparent and merit-based recruitment policy of the govt,” said Mann. He urged Punjabis working abroad to return to their motherland, assuring them the state govt would provide regular employment opportunities and make them active partners in Punjab’s socio-economic progress.Mann said that due to the system prevailing during previous regimes, many youngsters had left Punjab and settled abroad, but reverse migration had now started in the state. “Now things have changed. A reflection of this change can be seen from the fact that a girl present here today has got three jobs and is among the successful candidates receiving an appointment letter. 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 added.Mann said the state govt had prioritised education and undertaken path-breaking initiatives to transform the lives of people. Education is the key that can pull people out of this vicious cycle by improving their standard of living.” Therefore, our govt is tirelessly making efforts to improve the standard of education and empower the people,” he added.The CM said Punjab had emerged topped the country in school education rankings. “Punjab has surpassed Kerala, Maharashtra and Delhi to secure the number one position in primary and middle-school education. In the last four years, the state govt has focused on teacher training, modern teaching methods and smart classrooms,” the CM said.
