By Kashmir News Corner 
Jammu, Jan 25 (KNC): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday distributed over 61,000 appointment letters to newly recruited youth across the country through virtual mode while addressing the 18th edition of the Rozgar Mela, asserting that India is rapidly creating fresh employment opportunities for young people both at home and abroad.
The Rozgar Mela was held simultaneously at 45 locations nationwide. In Jammu, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan distributed appointment letters at the BSF Headquarters in Paloura.
Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh coordinated the national-level programme from New Delhi.
An official handout as per news agency Kashmir News Corner — KNC said that Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada, who was scheduled to attend the event in Srinagar, and Union MoS Raksha Khadse, slated to participate in Leh, could not reach due to adverse weather conditions. In Leh, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Kavinder Gupta distributed the appointment letters in her absence.
Addressing the gathering via video conferencing, Prime Minister Modi said India, with the world’s largest youth population, is signing international trade and mobility agreements to expand employment avenues for its young workforce. He urged the new appointees to view their appointment letters as a commitment to nation-building and public service.
“Government jobs are an opportunity to serve the people with the spirit of ‘Nagrik Devo Bhava’,” the Prime Minister said, adding that initiatives like Digital India and the rapidly expanding startup ecosystem have opened new economic frontiers, with nearly two lakh startups employing over 21 lakh youth.
At the Jammu event, Chirag Paswan said the Rozgar Mela reflects the government’s resolve towards transparent, merit-based and corruption-free recruitment. He emphasized youth empowerment, inclusive growth and national service as key pillars of the government’s development agenda.
Union MoS Dr Jitendra Singh said that over the past 11 years, more than 20 lakh long-pending promotions in government services have been cleared, ending stagnation in career progression. He added that recruitment through UPSC, SSC and Railway Recruitment Boards has seen a sharp rise since 2014.
Dr Singh also highlighted increased representation of women and Scheduled Tribes in government services, stating that around 14.6 per cent of appointees in this Rozgar Mela belonged to the ST category. He said several reforms have made recruitment processes faster and more candidate-friendly.
In Srinagar, appointment letters were distributed at the BSF Frontier Headquarters to candidates selected in Central Armed Police Forces, while officials, recruiting agencies and family members of new appointees participated in the event.
Officials said the Rozgar Mela, since its launch, has resulted in the issuance of over 11 lakh appointment letters, making it a key platform for employment generation and youth inclusion. —(KNC)