Punjab Govt studying clauses in states with job quota

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 15

With Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi announcing his government’s decision to bring in a law on reservation for Punjab youth in government and private jobs, the Congress government is learnt to be analysing the provisions incorporated by other states in securing jobs for their local candidates in both sectors.

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The Aam Aadmi Party on Monday said there was a shortage of about 500 Agriculture Development Officers (ADO), especially in the Doaba belt, who are critical for about 20 lakh families of farmers, whose main source of income is agriculture. AAP leader and MLA Kultar Singh Sandhwan said there should be an ADO behind 400 farmers’ families, but at present there was not even one behind 2,000 families. He said 400 posts of assistant sub-inspector were also lying vacant in the Agriculture Department. Besides, AAP demanded proper compensation to the farmers affected by pink bollworm.

In an interview with The Tribune on Sunday, CM Channi had stated he was holding consultations with the legal department to frame the provisions. The issue is likely to be tabled in the Cabinet meeting, as wider discussions with the Council of Ministers are to be held.

Already at least nine states, including Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Gujarat, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Karnataka, have in place reservation rules for local candidates in both government and private sectors.

Forest Minister Sangat Singh Gilzian said at least 75 per cent of the government jobs should be reserved for local candidates. Apart from candidates having passed classes X and XII from Punjab, the job applicant must have studied Punjabi as a compulsory subject in class X and should have lived in the state for the past 10-15 years, he wrote to the CM.

Former Union Minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia said the promise for reservation of jobs in both sectors should be part of the election manifesto of various political parties.

Ramoowalia termed the move “victory of Punjabiyat”. “The recruitment being done by Punjab Police officers through a private IT firm should be stopped,” he added.