Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday claimed that state government employees in Punjab receive the highest salaries among government employees in the country.
Mann said that if the Central government or another state government pays an employee ₹36,000, the Punjab government pays ₹50,000 for a comparable employee. He described government employees as the “backbone” of the state administration.
The Chief Minister made the remarks as more than three lakh Punjab government employees participated in a statewide strike called by the Punjab Sanjha Mulazam Manch. More than 150 employee organisations reportedly joined the protest, affecting public services across the state.
The employees were demanding the release of 18% pending Dearness Allowance (DA), implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and regularisation of contractual and temporary employees. Employee organisations accused the government of failing to resolve their long-pending demands despite repeated assurances.
1,746 appointed to Punjab Police
At an event in Jalandhar, Mann also handed over appointment letters to 1,746 newly recruited Punjab Police personnel.
According to the Chief Minister, 13,092 personnel have been added to the police force over the past four-and-a-half years, while the recruitment process for another 3,298 constables is underway.
Mann further claimed that 70,840 young people have so far secured government jobs on merit under the government’s “no bribe, no recommendation” policy.
