60% of newly recruited Punjab Police constables are graduates

Chandigarh, Aug 23: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday announced that more than 60 per cent of the constables appointed in the latest Punjab Police recruitment drive are graduates or post postgraduates. The chief minister gave away appointment letters to 4,358 newly-recruited constables on Tuesday, said he is elated to learn that youth with high academic qualifications have been successfully recruited for this challenging job.

Of the total 4,358 candidates, 103 are postgraduates, 2,607 are graduates and 1,648 are senior secondary pass outs, an official statement quoting the CM said. Addressing a gathering here, Mann said 2,930 constables fall in the age group of 18-25 years whereas 816 fall in the age group of 26-30 years.

Exhorting the newly recruited constables to update their expertise to eliminate crime and criminals, Mann emphasised that it is a matter of great pride and satisfaction that all the recruits are highly qualified and well equipped with academic and technical knowledge.

He said, "This qualification can be very helpful in dealing with crime and criminals in today's era of technological advancement." He said though 33 percent of the advertised posts were reserved for women, more than that proportion were selected. This was due to their penchant for moving ahead, capabilities and capacities, he said and asked them to dispense their services honestly for delivery of justice to people.

The chief minister said in merely five months of assuming charge, the Aam Aadmi Party government handed over appointment letters of government jobs to around 17,313 youth in the state. The CM said the state government has conducted the entire recruitment process in a transparent and fair manner. He asserted that merit had been the only criteria of selection in this recruitment drive.

The chief minister further said recruitment for filling 5,739 more vacant posts of the police department will be also embarked soon. Mann further said as the criminals are devising new techniques of committing crime, the police personnel should also update their expertise for tackling crime and criminals efficaciously.

Mann emphasised that the state government is committed to ensuring the well being of the women by imparting quality education to them. Mann said employment in police is not merely a job but a spirit to render service to the nation. He said that the Punjab Police has a glorious tradition of serving the country even in the most hostile conditions, and expressed hope that the new recruits will uphold this rich legacy inherited by them.

Striking an emotional chord with the new recruits, the CM called on them to use their services for delivering justice to needy people in a fair and transparent manner. He further said the police must dispense their services honestly with utmost professional commitment so that people do not face any problem and they feel secure.