North News
Chandigarh, October 7
In a major push towards women’s empowerment and economic self-reliance, the Punjab government has initiated a series of special mega employment camps across the state. These camps, which are focused on providing job opportunities and financial independence to women, have started in the districts of Hoshiarpur, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Barnala, and Gurdaspur as part of the first phase.
Punjab’s Minister for Social Security, Women, and Child Development, Dr. Baljit Kaur, emphasized the government’s commitment to empowering women and fostering self-reliance. “The initiative aligns with our broader vision of women’s empowerment,” she stated.
The employment camps have already seen significant participation. In Barnala, more than 370 women candidates took part, with 12 companies conducting job interviews. Among them, 88 girls were registered for free training programs with multinational organizations such as IBM and Microsoft. Various sectors, including banking, insurance, textiles, IT, and cosmetics, were represented at the camp. A total of 241 women were interviewed, several of whom received job offers on the spot, while others were shortlisted for further recruitment.
In Gurdaspur, the camp saw participation from 465 women, with 356 securing roles in fields such as warehousing, telecalling, computer operations, security services, and advisory positions in insurance and wellness sectors. At the Hoshiarpur camp, over 1500 candidates attended, with 204 women securing immediate placements. Another 412 advanced to the final interview stages. Major companies participated, aiming to fill 400 vacancies. Additionally, 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.
In Sri Muktsar Sahib, 14 companies interviewed 1134 women candidates, selecting 578 for various jobs.
The Minister also highlighted the availability of free training courses at the camps, including programs in digital marketing, cyber security, English language proficiency, and artificial intelligence technologies. Departments focused on self-employment, such as Fisheries, Horticulture, and Animal Husbandry, set up awareness stalls to provide information on loan access. On this occasion, 10 women received loan sanction letters, and financial support was extended to several self-help groups.
In a pioneering move, 30 women were trained and certified as GST practitioners through the Employment Bureau, opening up new job opportunities in tax filing and related sectors.
