Govt Jobs Had Become Dream For Youth Under Previous Govts As Money, Not Merit, Determined Recruitment: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann

Chandigarh: Handing over appointment letters to 523 more youths in the Health Department, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said his government has ended the era when government jobs were sold through money and political influence, depriving deserving candidates of opportunities. Citing the creation of 67,563 government jobs in four years through a transparent and merit-based process, the Chief Minister said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has restored faith in public recruitment and reversed the trend of youth leaving Punjab in search of employment.

Contrasting Punjab’s recruitment record with repeated examination controversies elsewhere in the country, the Chief Minister asserted that his government has ensured fairness, transparency and equal opportunity while simultaneously expanding healthcare and public welfare initiatives across the state.

Addressing a gathering while handing over appointment letters to the youth, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “It is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that more than 67,500 government jobs have been provided to youth across the state. The era of cash payments and favouritism in recruitments has ended and appointments are now being made solely on the basis of merit and eligibility.”

Emphasising the government’s commitment towards transparent governance, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “For decades, deserving youth were deprived of opportunities because jobs were distributed through recommendations and money power. We have completely changed this system. Today, government jobs are being provided purely on the basis of merit and eligibility. This is the reason that not even a single appointment made by our government has been challenged in court. The faith of youth in the recruitment process has been restored and every deserving candidate now knows that hard work and talent alone are sufficient to secure a government job.”

The Chief Minister said that Punjab has significantly strengthened primary healthcare delivery through its landmark initiative of 990 Aam Aadmi Clinics strategically established across urban and rural areas. “These clinics provide 107 essential medicines and 47 diagnostic tests free of cost while ensuring IT-enabled real-time reporting and efficient healthcare delivery. The response from the people has been transformational, with more than 5.54 crore OPD visits recorded till date. Nearly 84,000 patients are being served every day and more than 90 percent of them receive prescribed medicines free of cost at the clinics themselves,” he added.

Highlighting the success of the healthcare model, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated: “The impact of Aam Aadmi Clinics has been unprecedented. More than 5.54 crore OPD visits have been recorded till date and nearly 84,000 patients are receiving treatment every single day. More than 90% patients are receiving prescribed medicines free of cost. Most importantly, around 97% patients have expressed satisfaction with the services being provided. This reflects the immense trust that people have reposed in this initiative. With another 400 Aam Aadmi Clinics in the pipeline, we remain committed to ensuring that no citizen is deprived of accessible, dignified and quality healthcare.”

The Chief Minister said that the Punjab Government has also launched the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ as a comprehensive and determined effort to eradicate drug abuse and drug trafficking from the state.

The Chief Minister further said that the state government has taken a historic step towards Universal Health Coverage by extending 100 % health coverage to the entire population of Punjab under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna (MMSY). He said that under this initiative every family is entitled to cashless health cover of up to ₹10 lakh annually for 2,356 medical and surgical procedures through a network of around 900 government and empanelled private hospitals across Punjab and Chandigarh.

The Chief Minister said, “Our Government is living up to the expectations of the people and every single penny of the state exchequer is being spent for their welfare and development. For the first time a Chief Minister is directly listening to ordinary citizens through open public interactions and understanding their concerns at the grassroots level.”

Referring to examination reforms, the Chief Minister said that Punjab has maintained complete transparency in recruitment and competitive examinations. “Not a single examination paper has leaked in Punjab during the last four-and-a-half years,” he noted.

Drawing a contrast with the national situation, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “For the first time in the history of the country, security forces are being deployed to conduct examinations like NEET. Across the country, dozens of examination papers have reportedly been leaked, shattering the aspirations of lakhs of young people. In Punjab, however, not even a single examination paper has leaked during the last four and a half years. We have restored the faith of our youth by ensuring transparency, accountability and fairness in the examination system.”

Highlighting the government’s achievements in the power sector, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “Today, more than 90% households in Punjab are getting free power. Our farmers are receiving daytime electricity, which has significantly benefited agriculture. At a time when valuable public assets elsewhere are being handed over to a select few, Punjab has created history by purchasing a private thermal power plant. Our Government is judiciously utilising every single penny of the state exchequer for public welfare. Every decision of our government is aimed at protecting public interest and strengthening Punjab’s future.”

Urging the newly recruited youth to work with dedication and commitment, the Chief Minister said that they should use their positions to help the needy and underprivileged sections of society. “The appointments have been made through a completely transparent process after candidates successfully cleared examinations in a highly competitive environment,” he added.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the achievements of Punjab’s students in examinations such as NEET, JEE and JEE Advanced, along with transformative initiatives like Schools of Eminence. “GST (Goods and Services Tax) collections in Punjab have tripled and the additional revenue generated is being invested in public welfare and development projects,” he added.

Reiterating his government’s commitment towards making Punjab the leading state in the country, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Our government is fully committed to making Punjab number one in every sphere. Whether it is education, healthcare, employment generation, agriculture, industry or public welfare, we are working with complete dedication and sincerity. No stone will be left unturned in ensuring the progress, prosperity and overall development of Punjab and its people.”

Cabinet Minister Dr Balbir Singh and several other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

*Transparent Recruitment Drive Creates New Opportunities for Punjab Youth*

Since assuming office in 2022, the Bhagwant Mann Government has provided 67,563 government jobs through a transparent and merit-based recruitment process, ending the culture of recommendations and money power in public appointments. The latest recruitment drive saw 523 appointment letters being distributed in the Health and Family Welfare Department, including 178 Medical Officers, 99 Staff Nurses, 124 Multi-Purpose Health Workers (Male), 64 Multi-Purpose Health Workers (Female), 24 Dental Teaching Faculty members, 23 Ayurvedic Teaching Faculty members, along with clerical and support staff. Major recruitment has also been undertaken across departments, including School Education (16,316), Home Affairs (14,723), Power (8,306), Local Government (5,681), Health and Family Welfare (4,235), Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management (2,355), Medical Education and Research (2,143), and Water Resources (2,168).

Notably, every appointment has been made strictly on merit and complete transparency, restoring the confidence of youth in the recruitment process and ensuring equal opportunities for deserving candidates across the state.