category Regional, chandigarh, , tags Regional, chandigarh, , DW BUREAU Chandigarh Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday said that in a first, the state government has given government jobs to 29936 youth of the state, so far, which is a record as none of the state governments across the country has given so many jobs to youth in the first year. Addressing the gathering after handing over appointment letters to 252 new recruits in Health and Family Welfare, Power and Medical Research department here at local Municipal Bhawan, the Chief Minister said that the youth should feel proud that they are becoming team of the state government which is working untiringly for carving out a new Punjab. He said that the state government has been conducting this recruitment drive completely on merit basis and jobs are being given only to deserving and needy candidates. Bhagwant Mann said that neither any recommendation nor any other tantrum except merit is working in this recruitment drive. The Chief Minister said that as he understands the plight of the common man, he has recently regularised the services of teachers who have been discharging their duty for a long time. He said that an emotionally surcharged teacher has explained his woes to him and told him about the miseries of his life. Bhagwant Mann said that due to the negative approach of the successive state governments, Punjab has lagged behind in progress and prosperity. The Chief Minister said that those who were living in palatial houses during their heydays of power have been ousted from the political scene of the state. He said that the state has witnessed the dawn of a new era as these people who were considered invincible have been shown the door by the people. Bhagwant Mann quipped that these people living in big palaces had never bothered about the well being of the common man and had confined them in high walls of their residences. The Chief Minister said that now these rejected leaders are forging new alliances or mending the old ones against him. He said that the sole motive of such alliances is to grab the political power in the state by hook or by crook. Bhagwant Mann said that contrary to these leaders he is working untiringly for the welfare of people and using the office to serve the masses. The Chief Minister said that as runways at the airports facilitate an Airplane for its smooth take off in the same manner the state government is helping the youth to realize their dreams. He asserted that every effort is being made to give wings to the ideas of youth and no stone is being left unturned for this noble cause. Bhagwant Mann made a fervent appeal to youth to make all out efforts for carving an identity of their own to make a place in society adding that sky s the limit for them. The Chief Minister also said that the state government is opening eight hi-tech centres for imparting training to the students for competitive exams. Bhagwant Mann said that these centres will provide quality training to youth for clearing the UPSC exams and sit on coveted positions in state and country. He said that the target of the state government is to ensure that youth sit in high offices and serve the country. The Chief Minister said that the for the first time in the history of the state, the Punjab government is all set to buy a private thermal plant in the state to augment its coal based power production. He said that this will help in making the state power surplus by augmenting its power production. Bhagwant Mann said that with the resumption of coal supply from Pachwara coal mine the state has surplus coal which can be used to run these thermal plants effectively. The Chief Minister said that the state has enough supply and stock of coal through which these plants can be run efficiently. He said that the state government is supplying uninterrupted and regular power to all the sectors even during the peak paddy season. Bhagwant Mann said that the state government has already made elaborate arrangements in this regard and there is no shortage of power in the state. The Chief Minister said that this venue has witnessed a number of such events in which youth have got jobs in various government departments. He said that this reflects the commitment of the state government to ensure the well being of youth and opening new avenues of employment for them. Bhagwant Mann said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction for him that all the youth have been selected for these posts purely on the basis of merit. The Chief Minister said that now these youth have become integral part of the government adding that now should serve the people with missionary zeal. Bhagwant Mann hoped that the new recruits will use their pen for helping the needy and underprivileged sections of society. He said that the newly recruited youth should ensure maximum welfare of the public so that every section of society is benefited from it. (editor dailyworld.in)