PSSSB re-constitution under process: Punjab CM

The Punjab government is reconstituting the SSSB, which was disbanded last month, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh told the state Assembly today.

Singh was responding to a question by the Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira about the state government organising job fairs.

The chief minister said his government was using the job fairs for recruitment until the time the new Subordinate Selection Service Board (SSSB) is formed to recruit junior officials in various state government departments.

"Little knowledge is a dangerous thing," Singh quipped during the Question Hour on the second day of the Budget session, taking a dig at Khaira over his "lack of knowledge" on the subject.

Singh said the state government had generated more than 1.61 lakh jobs in the state since taking over, with more than 25,000 in the government job category.

"Around 29,000 youth were given their appointment letters in the recently concluded second phase of the state government's mega job fairs, of these, 7,000 were in the government sector," said Singh.

The chief minister also informed the House that there were around 757 vacant posts for clerks, which the government would soon fill up.

Replying to a question raised by the MLA from Payal, Singh said at present, his government did not have any proposal to establish a market committee at Payal.

"We are ready to upgrade the existing sub-yard Payal to New Market Committee if it fulfills the requisite norms for upgradation," Singh said.

One of the preconditions is a minimum annual income of Rs 2.5 crore. The sub-yard's income in the financial year 2015-16 was Rs 1.73 crore while in 2016-17 it was Rs 1.91 crore.

Also, the sub-yard should be located at least 16 km away from the nearest Market Committee, as against the existing 10 km.