Dear Chief Minister

As I saw the humongous hoardings that read “Ghar Ghar de Vich Challi Gall, Channi Karda Masle Hall” for the nth time today, I wondered if you really do and if you will resolve mine too! You have been garnering much attention for being an “accessible” leader, would my voice be able to reach you amidst the zest and zeal of elections in the state? If yes…

With grief, hopelessness, and deep anguish, I write to bring your urgent attention to the plight of newly selected candidates for the 1158 posts of Assistant Professors/Librarians (College Cadre) in the Higher Education Department, Punjab with reference to Advertisement No. 1 to 33/2021. Left in a lurch, we are waiting for our appointment and joining for the past two months now with no clear timeline or certainty of the further procedure.

While enthusiastic claims of providing employment and livelihood to the “educated” youth of Punjab after decades of slumber were made by the government, they have yet again turned out to be hollow, and mere election gimmicks, and we, “the chosen few” quite ironically, have all the reasons to believe so.

The entire process of selection post 8th Nov, 2021, the last date of application, is a case of utter mismanagement and ill-preparedness. There were overnight changes made to the datesheet and the counseling schedule, showing absolute inconsideration for outstation candidates who would need to make travel arrangements in advance to appear for the selection test or the document verification. Many failed to appear but who cared! Much to our shock and dismay, there were rumours of paper leaks doing rounds at this time. Adding to our woes, there was a huge uproar regarding the arbitrary allocation of extra marks to the faculty serving in government colleges of Punjab only. In no time, one after another, a series of Writ. Petitions were filed in the Hon’ble High Court of Punjab and Haryana by the aggrieved candidates with one concern or the other bringing the recruitment process to a grinding halt.

On 30th Nov, 2021, one of the counseling days, Mr. Krishan Kumar, Secretary, Higher Education and Languages, boasted on a telephonic call, “One has to be considerate as we are working day in and day out to complete the recruitment process within a 40-day timeline.” Fifty days have passed since then, I wonder what happened to the timeline!! Why was such an over-ambitious roadmap chalked out by the government and its various stakeholders at the very outset, when they hadn’t even done their homework properly? What were they trying to prove? And if they had a substantial and well-thought-out plan, where did it disappear? Why is there no end to the loopholes?

Dear CM, does the government even realize that we are not just a number or statistics to be showcased as one of its achievements on posters and pamphlets or campaigning speeches? We are human beings. Some of us are the sole breadwinners of our families. Many, including myself, had served resignations in their ongoing jobs. With no income or job security in the middle of the third wave of the pandemic, how does the government think we will make our ends meet? The system has collectively failed us and driven us into misery and desolation. Are we at fault if we gave in to the dream of a much-coveted “government job” or should those who sold this dream to us behave in an accountable manner?

They say, “Justice delayed is justice denied.” Henceforth, I hope the government keeps all its answers ready and fixes its shortcomings before it’s too late. I also await a clear timeline on the official website for the appointments to happen on a priority basis and so that no last-minute hassle is endured by the candidates further. Your intervention is a must for us “To be or not to be…” the assistant professors in the colleges of Punjab. I finally cross my fingers and wish that this “masla” will now be resolved for once and all.

Sincerely

Harleen Kaur