Amarinder asks various departments to prepare lists of critical vacancies

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh asked various government departments on Monday to prepare lists of critical vacancies within 10 days to fill them up on an urgent basis.

Chairing a meeting to discuss recruitment and other vital issues here, Singh said about 29,000-odd vacancies in various departments could be filled in the first phase, with another 15,000 for filling up in the second phase next year.

Underlining the importance of filling up critical vacancies on a priority basis, the chief minister asked the departments to look at technical or skilled-cadre vacancies, such as doctors, nurses, teachers, where 2-per cent retirement takes place every year.

The meeting also discussed various measures, including restructuring, to streamline functioning of departments and cut down expenses by bringing in more efficiencies, as per official release.

In another decision, Singh announced a pilot project to provide compulsory NCC (National Cadet Corps) training to Class 9 and 11 students of state-run schools, and to first and second year students of government colleges in the border districts of Gurdaspur, Taran Taran and Ferozepur