Prime Minster Shri Narendra Modi distributes over 51,000 appointment letters to youth nationwide via video conferencing
Union Minister Shri Hardeep Singh Puri presents appointment letters to 188 youth in Chandigarh
Govt reaffirms commitment to youth empowerment, says Hardeep Singh Puri
Workforce to drive nation’s progress, highlights Union Minister
Over 8 Lakh Employment Letters Issued in 16 Months by Central Government’s Rozgar Mela Initiative
Chandigarh, 29 October 2024
In a significant step towards youth empowerment and employment generation, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today distributed over 51,000 appointment letters to newly recruited individuals across India via video conferencing. The event, part of the government’s Rozgar Mela initiative, took place at 40 locations nationwide, where new appointees were welcomed into various Ministries and Departments, including Revenue, Higher Education, Home Affairs, Defence, and Health and Family Welfare. This nationwide Rozgar Mela underscores the government’s dedication to creating meaningful employment opportunities and fostering a skilled, empowered workforce to contribute to India’s development journey.
The Rozgar Mela is an integral part of Prime Minister’s focus on employment and skill development, initiated in October 2022. Till date, the government has distributed over 8 lakh appointment letters through Rozgar Mela, reflecting its commitment to prioritize employment creation and youth inclusion in nation-building. The new recruits will undergo basic training through ‘Karmayogi Prarambh,’ an online module accessible via the iGOT Karmayogi portal, aimed at equipping them with essential skills to excel in their roles.
In Chandigarh, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, personally presented appointment letters to 188 youth, including 69 young women, in a ceremony held at the Post Graduate Government College for Girls, Sector 42. Addressing the gathering, Shri Puri highlighted the significance of the Rozgar Mela, celebrating the first Rozgar Mela in the government’s third historic term. He commended the government’s efforts in establishing a transparent, merit-based recruitment process, saying, “The changes brought by the Central Government has eliminated nepotism and corruption in government recruitment, paving the way for young people to secure employment and fulfill their potential.”
The Minister also reflected on the impressive transformation of India’s economy under the current administration. “From being among the weakest economies, India has risen to become the fifth-largest globally and is well on its way to becoming the third largest by 2027-28, according to the IMF,” Shri Puri remarked. This robust economic growth is fuelled by strategic government investments, amounting to more than Rs 90,000 crore annually, in key sectors such as entrepreneurship, education, and sports.
The Minister outlined various initiatives under the Skill India Mission, which has successfully trained over 2.8 crore individuals to be ‘employment ready.’ Under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), more than 1.5 crore youth have received skill training, and 3,000 new Industrial Training Institutes have been set up across the country to meet the growing demand for vocational courses. Additionally, 7 IITs, 16 IIITs, 7 IIMs, 15 AIIMS, and 390 universities have been established under the government’s vision to empower India’s youth, who are also playing a dual role as ‘job creators’ through over 1.2 lakh start-ups now established across the country.
Highlighting India’s ongoing economic ascent, Shri Puri noted that India’s GDP has reached $4 trillion, doubling from $2 trillion in recent years. “If India continues growing at a 7% annual rate, reaching the $5 trillion mark will not take long,” he said, acknowledging the role of skilled youth in driving this progress.
Shri Puri also discussed budget allocations for 2024-25, with over Rs 1.48 lakh crore dedicated to education, employment, and skill development. He introduced three new employment-linked incentive programs designed to support first-time job seekers, manufacturing industries, and employers, and mentioned that the 12 industrial parks sanctioned under the National Industrial Corridor Development Program are expected to further boost employment opportunities, ultimately benefiting over 2.1 crore youth. Additionally, the government has created a program offering 12-month internships to 1 crore youth in the top 500 companies, spread over five years.
During his address, Shri Puri invoked the Prime Minister’s vision for “Amrit Kaal,” a developmental period he described as pivotal for building a ‘New India’ by 2047, where all citizens will have access to gainful employment. “This era will lay the foundation for a developed India, and today’s Rozgar Mela is a reminder of the Central Government’s commitment to this cause,” he emphasized, while encouraging the newly appointed youth to approach their roles with a sense of responsibility and dedication to national progress.
Following the Rozgar Mela, Union Minister Puri held a Press Conference where he addressed several key issues, including recent security concerns in Punjab. Referring to a grenade blast incident at a petrol pump in Mansa, Punjab, Shri Puri urged the state government to handle the matter strictly to maintain law and order. On agricultural matters, he assured that the government is closely supporting farmers, with annual increases in Minimum Support Prices (MSP) on various crops to ensure stability and prosperity for the farming community.
Addressing environmental concerns regarding Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants for stubble management, he highlighted that CBG plants have been successfully operating in Germany for years without any adverse health impacts, refuting rumors that these plants are harmful. “The Central Government is committed to a cleaner and more sustainable India,” he added, underscoring the government’s proactive approach to environmental issues. Shri Vinod Kumar Verma , Chief Postmaster General , Punjab & Chandigarh and Smt. Padma Gandha Mishra , Director Postal Services, Punjab were also present on the occassion.
