Demand to extend multi-purpose health worker application deadline

Multi-Purpose Health Worker (Male) candidates on Monday held a meeting demanding an extension of the application deadline for recruitment posts and age relaxation for over-age unemployed applicants.

The Punjab government had issued an advertisement on August 1 for filling 270 posts of Multi-Purpose Health Worker (Male) in the Health Department through Baba Farid University, Faridkot. The application window was set from August 6 to August 26. However, candidates faced confusion in the initial days due to technical glitches and the basic qualification requirement of 12th class, which prevented many from applying.

The demand, made jointly by Unemployed Multi-Purpose Health Workers Union State President Sukhwinder Singh and leaders Makhan Singh and Karamjit, calls for extending the application deadline by at least three weeks beyond August 26. They also urged the Punjab government to consider age relaxation for over-age unemployed candidates.

In a meeting with the Health Secretary on August 3, the union was assured that an agenda addressing unemployed candidates would be prepared and sent to the Punjab government. Following this, the union planned a permanent protest outside the Chief Minister’s residence in Sangrur on August 10. A meeting with the Punjab Cabinet Sub-Committee was scheduled for August 13 but was postponed to August 27.

Union leaders expressed hope that age relaxation would be granted at the August 27 meeting and reiterated their appeal to Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh, the Health Department, and Baba Farid University to extend the application portal deadline.

Before the 2022 assembly elections and after taking office, the Aam Aadmi Party government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, had assured unemployed over-age workers seeking jobs in various departments, including Education and Health, that age relaxation would be provided. The CM had promised opportunities for these candidates who had been staging dharnas for employment under previous governments.