Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has said the state is becoming a preferred destination for government employment, with even some young Punjabis who had moved abroad now returning to compete for public sector jobs through the state’s merit-based recruitment process.
Speaking at an appointment letter distribution event in Bathinda on June 23, Mann handed over appointment letters to 665 newly recruited candidates of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited. He said his government had provided 68,268 government jobs in around four-and-a-half years, calling it a record for the state.
The Chief Minister used the event to project government recruitment as a key part of Punjab’s wider social and economic policy. He said the state had moved away from what he described as an earlier culture of bribery, recommendations and favouritism in public hiring.
Punjab government jobs and return migration
Mann appealed to Punjabis working abroad to return to the state, saying the government would provide regular employment opportunities and involve them in Punjab’s development. He argued that a transparent hiring system had restored confidence among young people who once felt compelled to look outside the state or the country.
In a post on X, Mann said major decisions aimed at Punjab’s progress and a better future for its youth were shared at the Bathinda event. He wrote that his government had given 68,268 government jobs on merit after ending “corrupt practices” linked to bribery and recommendations.
“Due to this transparent recruitment policy, even those youth who had gone abroad are now returning to Punjab,” he said in the post. He added that hard work, honesty and public service were the core principles of his government.
Addressing the newly appointed candidates, Mann said many young people had left Punjab during previous governments because they believed the system was tilted against them. He said that trend was now changing, and pointed to one successful candidate at the event who had secured three job offers.
“Now things have changed,” Mann said. “I appeal to the youth to call back their friends and relatives living abroad to Punjab. We will give them jobs.” He said appointments were being made only on the basis of merit and eligibility.
665 PSPCL recruits receive appointment letters
The 665 appointments in PSPCL were presented by the state government as part of its larger employment drive. Mann said every recruit had cleared competitive examinations and that the process had been conducted transparently. He also claimed that no appointment made under the current recruitment system had been challenged in court.
The Chief Minister told the new recruits that government service should be treated as a platform to help people, especially those from weaker and backward sections. He said they should remain humble and work hard even after securing government posts.
“You should not be proud merely because you have received these jobs,” Mann said. “Stay grounded and keep working hard, because that is the key to success.” He urged the appointees to dream big while also becoming better human beings and responsible public servants.
The event also saw several successful candidates, including Jia Garg, Amandeep Singh Pannu, Labhdeep Singh, Rabinder Singh Takkar, Kirti, Pushpinder, Akaljot Singh, Harsh, Sumanpreet Singh, Jatinder Singh, Jugraj Singh, Honey and Nitish, thank the government for what they described as merit-based appointments.
Education, women employees and welfare announcements
Mann also linked employment with education reform, saying Punjab had prioritised schools to improve long-term opportunities for ordinary families. He said education, rather than one-time concessions, was the strongest tool to help people escape poverty and other social challenges.
The Chief Minister said Punjab had improved primary and middle school education through teacher training, smart classrooms and upgraded systems. He claimed the state had moved from 27th position in school education when he took office to the top rank, citing national-level data.
He said Punjab’s school system had performed strongly in basic education, digital infrastructure and facilities. According to Mann, 99.9% of schools in the state now have electricity, while 99% have computers. He also said Punjab had scored higher than Kerala in Punjabi language and mathematics indicators.
In another announcement aimed at government employees, Mann said women employees would be posted within 40 km of their homes after completing their probation period. He said the decision was intended to help them balance family responsibilities and professional duties.
The Chief Minister also referred to the “Maanvan-Dhiyan Satkar Yojana”, which he said would be launched from July 1. Under the proposed scheme, women above 18 years of age would receive Rs 1,000 per month, while women from Scheduled Caste communities would receive Rs 1,500 per month.
Wider governance claims by Bhagwant Mann
Mann said public money belonged to the state’s people and was being returned to them through schools, hospitals, roads and welfare schemes. He said the government had provided free electricity to 90% of households, improved roads and closed toll plazas, saving Rs 70 lakh per day.
He also highlighted irrigation and water management measures. Mann said the use of canal water for irrigation had increased from 22% when his government took charge to more than 80%. He said 14,000 km of pipelines and water channels had been built to take canal water across Punjab.
The Chief Minister said recharge points had been created in canals and rivers to improve groundwater levels. He claimed these efforts had helped raise water levels by two to four metres in some areas, adding that water security was essential for Punjab’s future as an agriculture-driven state.
Mann also referred to the Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana, under which health cards are being issued to all 65 lakh families in Punjab. He said each family would be entitled to free treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh, and more than 30 lakh beneficiaries had already received health cards.
The Bathinda event allowed the government to combine its employment message with broader claims on education, power, welfare and irrigation. For the new PSPCL recruits, the immediate takeaway was the appointment letter. For the Mann government, the larger pitch was that transparent recruitment can become central to Punjab’s attempt to retain and bring back its youth.