93 exam paper leaks across country since 2017, but none in Punjab since 2022: Mann

Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday claimed that 93 examination papers had been leaked nationwide since 2017, but Punjab had not witnessed a single such incident since 2022.Mann's statement came after handing over appointment letters to 355 joinees. With this, a Punjab official said, the total number of jobs provided by the AAP govt rose to 67,037. Mann claimed that for the first time, govt jobs in Punjab were being secured on merit.The chief minister claimed that Punjab was following a transparent recruitment process. "Incidents involving major examinations, including NEET, have disappointed and demoralised lakhs of youth. However, after our govt assumed office in 2022, not even a single paper leak incident has surfaced in Punjab," he said.The appointment letters were distributed among candidates recruited in the departments of technical education, cooperation, local govt, water supply and sanitation, animal husbandry, public works, housing and urban development, and other departments. Sharing snippets from the event, Mann said on X that Punjab had set an example by ensuring honest recruitment and securing the top position in the nation in the field of education. "I appeal to the newly recruited employees to prioritise the work of senior citizens and the common people in govt offices. AAP govt is committed to preventing the migration of youth abroad and providing them with opportunities and wings to progress here in Punjab itself," he said.Referring to the govt's education reforms under Sikhya Kranti, Mann claimed that Punjab witnessed a remarkable transformation in the education sector. "When our govt assumed office, Punjab was ranked 27th in the country in school education. Today, according to NITI Aayog, Punjab has emerged as the number one state in school education, surpassing states such as Kerala. This achievement was made possible because we invested in strengthening govt schools and creating world-class educational infrastructure," he said. Mann said an investment of Rs 20 crore was made for the modernisation of polytechnic colleges. "In addition to this, the Captain Amol Kalia Centre of Excellence is being established at Nangal at a cost of Rs 23 crore. This institution will serve as a hub for advanced skill development and industry-oriented training and will help prepare young people for the jobs of future," he said. Highlighting AAP govt's recent decision regarding contractual employees, he said, "In a welfare-oriented decision, the state govt has decided to end the contractual system and begin the process of regularising the services of around 65,000 employees."