CHANDIGARH – In a move aimed at enhancing work-life balance and improving the welfare of the state’s workforce, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has announced a landmark policy ensuring that female employees in Group C and D categories are posted in the vicinity of their homes.
Under the new directive, these employees will be eligible for postings within a maximum radius of 40 kilometres from their place of residence.
Addressing Long-Standing Hardships
The decision follows extensive feedback from female staff across various departments, including staff nurses and police personnel, who had expressed significant distress over current posting locations. Many reported being stationed up to 200 kilometres away from their families, a distance that restricted them to visiting their homes only two days a week.
“Our government is committed to the welfare of every section of society. We have heard the difficulties faced by our female employees, and we are taking decisive action to ensure they can manage their professional and family responsibilities more effectively,” Chief Minister Mann stated.
Policy Scope and Implementation
The initiative is designed to provide immediate relief to thousands of women working in state-run departments. Key aspects of the policy include:
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Geographic Limit: Postings will be restricted to a maximum 40-kilometer radius, with the potential for assignments as close as 15 to 20 kilometres depending on departmental availability.
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Broad Inclusion: The benefit extends to various roles, including female police personnel, staff nurses, and administrative staff falling under the Group C and D classifications.
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Operational Framework: The Chief Minister has already issued clear instructions to senior officials to draft and finalize the necessary administrative framework to implement this policy across all relevant departments without delay.
A Step Toward Employee Well-being
This policy shift is being viewed as a significant administrative reform within the state. By reducing long-distance travel, the government aims to lower the mental and physical stress on its employees, which officials believe will ultimately lead to higher productivity and improved service delivery across state departments.
This initiative follows a string of recent announcements by the Punjab government focused on the regularisation of contractual employees and the improvement of working conditions for the state’s public servants.
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