To ensure maximum possible selection of youth from Punjab into defence services, Punjab will hold pre-recruitment training programme for the wards of ex-servicemen and others for entry into technical or non-technical trades of defense or para-military forces. For the purpose, an amount of Rs 4 crore has already been sanctioned during 2013-14.
The training programme has already been initiated in various districts across the state. “The purpose of imparting training is to secure employment for Punjabi youth as majority of them came from rural areas with inadequate educational qualifications and could not qualify the entrance test for joining the armed forces,” said Chief Parliamentary Secretary Virsa Singh Valtoha. “The training is being imparted in selected districts under the supervision of district sainik welfare officers within the premises of Sainik Rest House complexes,” said Valtoha.
Giving details of the scheme, Valtoha said that at present the wards of ex-servicemen and scheduled castes were provided free diet of Rs 60 per day during the training period of six weeks. Besides, vocational training in Punjabi stenography or typing training was also being arranged at Amritsar, Jalandhar, Faridkot, and Roopnagar to enable the ex-servicemen or widows and their wards to join Class-III jobs in the state civil services where 13 per cent seats has been reserved for them.