The Punjab government has made a landmark move that strengthens the state’s rights while opening the door to major employment opportunities for young people. In a cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the government officially approved the formation of an independent cadre for the Bhakra Beas Management Board. For many years, the posts meant for Punjab within the board remained vacant and were instead occupied by individuals from other states, which created frustration among Punjab’s youth.
After the cabinet meeting, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema explained that Punjab employees had previously been sent to the board on deputation, but these postings were frequently cancelled and outside employees were appointed in their place. This pattern not only weakened Punjab’s legal entitlements but also steadily reduced the availability of government jobs for local youth. He pointed out that once the new cadre is established, every position reserved for Punjab in the board will be filled by candidates from the state. More than three thousand government jobs are expected to be filled entirely by young Punjabis.
According to official figures, three thousand one hundred and sixty five posts belonging to Punjab in the board have remained unfilled for several years. Many of these positions fall under the electricity, water resources, and health departments. The state government will now directly fill all these vacancies, creating secure and permanent government employment for thousands of applicants. In addition, the cabinet has cleared the creation of two thousand four hundred and fifty eight new posts for various projects, power operations, and departmental needs. This decision is expected to bring a major shift in Punjab’s administrative capacity and job landscape.
For years, Punjab and the board have been in conflict over several matters, including the distribution of river water with Haryana, the sharing of service data for Class One employees, and the deployment of security forces at the Bhakra and Nangal dams. More recently, the issue of granting permanent membership to Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan has added to the tensions. Punjab has consistently argued that such decisions go against the Punjab Reorganization Act of nineteen sixty six.
Although the central government earlier asked Punjab to fill the vacant posts, the state responded that the board’s recruitment framework made it impossible to appoint employees from within the Punjab financial structure. Creating a dedicated cadre resolves this issue entirely and signals that the government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is unwilling to compromise when it comes to Punjab’s constitutional and administrative rights.
This decision demonstrates that the current government is committed not only to promising change but also to turning those promises into action. The formation of a separate cadre within the Bhakra Beas Management Board stands out as a strong step toward defending Punjab’s rights and empowering the next generation.
Chief Minister Mann described the decision as one that protects the dignity of Punjab and safeguards the future of its youth. He made it clear that every seat belonging to Punjab within the board will now be reserved exclusively for its young people. Families waiting for stable government employment will benefit directly from this move.
