Jaipur, May 23 (IANS) Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, visited Jaipur on Saturday and participated in a ‘Rozgar Mela (employment fair)’ held at the Rajasthan Constitution Club, where appointment letters were distributed to 420 youths selected for various central government departments.

Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav, Jaipur MP Manju Sharma, and MLA Gopal Sharma were also present at the event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the event virtually through video conferencing and inaugurated the nationwide Rozgar Mela. During the programme, appointment letters were distributed to 51,000 selected candidates across 47 locations in the country.

The recruitment drive covered multiple central government departments, including Indian Railways, ISRO, Health and Family Welfare, Education, and the Postal Department.

Addressing the gathering, Ashwini Vaishnaw said that 1.78 lakh recruitments are currently underway in Indian Railways. He noted that recruitment procedures earlier took considerable time, but an annual recruitment calendar has now been introduced to streamline the process.

He explained that recruitment is being conducted in four phases annually. Notifications for loco pilots are issued in the first quarter, technicians and related posts in the second quarter, non-technical popular categories such as station masters and junior engineers in the third quarter, and Level-1 recruitments in the fourth quarter. According to Vaishnaw, the system provides clarity to aspirants and ensures timely employment opportunities.

The Railway Minister said Indian Railways is undergoing rapid expansion, with work underway to lay 36,000 kilometres of new railway tracks nationwide. He stated that once ongoing railway projects in Rajasthan are completed, preparations are being made to operate around 200 new trains in the state.

He added that more than 50 new trains have already been introduced in Rajasthan since the COVID-19 period.

Vaishnaw also interacted with the newly recruited youths and encouraged them to contribute actively to nation-building.

Union Minister Yadav said employment is not merely a source of personal security but also carries responsibility toward society and the nation. He urged newly appointed candidates to work with the spirit of ‘Nation First’ throughout their professional journey.

Addressing candidates virtually, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said government jobs are not just employment opportunities but also a chance to participate in the country’s development. He said youth entering sectors such as railways, banking, Defence and education will play a crucial role in realising the vision of a developed India.

The Prime Minister also acknowledged the role of families and society in supporting the achievements of the youth and said public service should be guided by a sense of social responsibility.

–IANS

arc/rad