Punjab power jobs drop mandatory Punjabi, sparking protests

Punjab State Power Corporation Limited's notification for recruiting 6,000 Assistant Linemen has triggered widespread protests after the utility removed mandatory Punjabi as an eligibility criterion. Over 2,000 apprentice linemen gathered in Ludhiana to oppose the change, alongside union leaders and pensioners' bodies.

Union leaders argue that scrapping the Punjabi requirement could allow candidates from other states to claim jobs meant for local youth, exacerbating Punjab's employment crisis. They describe the language mandate as directly linked to safeguarding opportunities for Punjab-based applicants rather than merely a linguistic concern.

The protesters also criticized the removal of apprenticeship preference, claiming it betrays youth who have already undergone training with the power utility. PSEB Employees Federation and apprenticeship unions have demanded restoration of both provisions, warning of a sharp state-level agitation if their concerns are not addressed.

The controversy reflects broader tensions over language-based employment reservations and the role of regional languages in protecting local job opportunities against candidates from other states.