The confidence and morale of women in Punjab are set to reach new heights. As a result of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s vision and the state government’s commitment, a historic decision has been taken to provide 33% reservation for women in government jobs. This step will not only open new doors for employment but will also strengthen the social and administrative framework of Punjab.
The Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has approved this regulation. Under this rule, 33% of posts in all Group A, B, C, and D category jobs in the state will be reserved for women.
Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that this decision, besides providing employment opportunities, will ensure women’s participation in administration and decision-making roles. According to her, this will make Punjab’s social and administrative structure even more robust.
This is not the first time such a major step has been taken in favor of women. Previously, the Punjab government provided financial assistance for the marriage of daughters from poor and backward classes under the Aashirwad Scheme. Recently, an amount of more than 13 crore rupees was released under this scheme, providing relief to thousands of families.
In the direction of making women economically empowered, the Aam Aadmi Party government also started the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana in Delhi, which planned to provide monthly financial assistance to women.
Experts believe that such policies will strengthen the economic status of women and increase their participation in employment. While the female literacy rate in Punjab is constantly improving, their share in employment remains low. In such a situation, this reservation policy can pave the way to reduce this inequality.
Government statistics also support this need—female workforce participation in Punjab was 21.1% in the year 2020-21, which increased to 25.2% in 2022-23, while the national average is approximately 36%. This indicates that there is still a long way to go.
The Maan government’s step is not limited to just providing jobs. It is, in fact, a historic initiative toward social equality and gender justice. In the coming times, its impact will be clearly visible in both the society and administration of Punjab, and this very step will lead toward making the dream of “Rangla Punjab” a reality.
