Special Mega Employment Camps Across Punjab to Empower Women: Dr. Baljit Kaur

Chandigarh, October 7, 2024: In a significant step towards women’s empowerment and self-reliance, the Punjab government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has launched a series of special mega employment camps across the state. These camps, aimed at providing economic independence to women, have commenced in the districts of Hoshiarpur, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Barnala and Gurdaspur as part of the first phase.

          Dr. Baljit Kaur, Punjab’s Minister for Social Security, Women, and Child Development, shared that the government is dedicated to empowering women economically and making them self-reliant. The initiative also aligns with the broader vision of women’s empowerment.

          Highlighting the success of these camps, Dr. Kaur stated that in Barnala, over 370 women candidates participated, with 12 companies conducting job interviews. Among the participants, 88 girls were registered for free training programs with renowned Multi National Organizations including IBM and Microsoft. Various companies from sectors like banking, insurance, textiles, IT and cosmetics also participated in the camp. As many as 241 women were interviewed during the camp, of which, several candidates received job offers on the spot and others were shortlisted for further recruitment.

          At the Gurdaspur camp, 465 women participated, of which, 356 were selected for roles after interviews with companies in fields such as warehousing, telecalling, computer operations, security services and advisory roles in insurance and wellness sectors.

          In Hoshiarpur, the camp attracted over 1500 candidates, with 204 women receiving immediate job placements. Additionally, 412 candidates advanced to the final interview stages. Major companies worked to fill 400 vacancies and 111 candidates registered for specialized training with IBM, Microsoft and the Red Cross. The PNB Rural Self-Employment Training Institute also raised awareness about loan opportunities for self-employment during the event.

          Sri Muktsar Sahib witnessed participation from 14 companies, which interviewed 1134 women candidates and selected 578 for various jobs.

          Dr. Kaur further emphasized that free training courses in areas such as digital marketing, Cyber Security, English language proficiency and AI technologies were made available at the camps. Several self-employment-oriented departments, including Fisheries, Horticulture, and Animal Husbandry, set up awareness stalls for women, informing them about easy access to loans. On this occasion, 10 women received loan sanction letters, with additional financial support extended to self-help groups.

          In a pioneering move, 30 women were trained and certified as GST practitioners through the Employment Bureau, opening new avenues for job opportunities in tax filing and related sectors.