Slamming the agitating patwaris for “blackmailing” the State Government by harassing the common man by resorting to strike, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday announced a threefold enhancement in the training allowance of the patwaris from existing Rs 5,000 to Rs 18,000 with immediate effect.
The Chief Minister also announced that an advertisement will also be issued for the post of 586 new patwaris.
Mann, addressing the gathering in a function to hand over recruitment letters to 710 newly-inducted patwaris, said that this is the need of the hour to ensure that under training patwaris discharge their duties in a smooth and hassle-free manner. “Rs 5000 is too inadequate for these patwaris who had come into service after clearing a tough competition due to which the Government has taken this decision. There is no dearth of funds with the State Government to ensure the well-being of its employees,” he said.
Exhorting the patwaris to judiciously use their pen for the people’s welfare rather than harassing them, Mann minced no words to say that it is unfortunate that some people have made it their habit to create inconvenience in the name of pen down strikes for supporting their “corrupt” colleagues.
“This is unwarranted and undesirable as the State Government will not make any compromise with the interests of the common man,” he said.
Taking a jibe over the “obstinacy” of the agitating patwaris, the Chief Minister said that these people want to blackmail the State Government by harassing the common man. “The Government will not succumb to such theatrics at the cost of the interests of the people. This is the government of the people and every effort will be made to ensure their well-being,” he said.
Also asking the patwaris to use their pen for public welfare, he said that they will be incentivized accordingly in the coming times. “Pen down strikes have never done any benefit to anyone, so the newly-inducted patwaris should not indulge in such actions,” said Mann.
Announcing the recruitment of patwaris annually on the lines of that of Police force, he said that the advertisement for the post of 586 new patwaris will be issued soon. “The regular recruitment of patwaris will streamline the functioning of the Revenue Department, on one hand; and facilitate the people of state, on the other. Similarly, the necessary formalities will be completed for making this recruitment drive a regular one from the coming times,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of great pride and satisfaction that the State Government has hitherto provided more than 35,000 jobs to the youth in various government departments. “It is a record as none of the previous governments have given so many jobs to youth especially in the first year. Merit and transparency have been the twin pillars on the basis of which jobs have been given to the youth across the State,” he said.