Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday distributed over 1200 appointment letters who were hired at various government departments.

The candidates included families of police officers killed in action since 1988 who were appointed on humanitarian grounds.

"I'm pleased to present appointment letters to 1,208 chosen applicants for the Health & Family Welfare and Home & Political departments at Sankardev Kalakshetra, Guwahati. With 41,710 appointments made thus far, we are moving closer to our objective of creating 1 lakh government employment" Later, Sarma tweeted.

The CM also stated during the broadcast that the government was making special efforts to ensure jobs for the family of each and every police officer who was slain.

The CM said that at first, out of sympathy, their families would be granted government employment; however, the practise was soon discontinued, and the next of kin were paid an ex-gratia payment instead.

"We believed that the families of these martyrs should be provided with jobs. There are 422 such employees in all, but their families have not yet found employment "explained Sarma.

According to Sarma, appointment letters for 72 of these applicants were distributed during the occasion. "We are hoping that over the next two months, we would be able to grant appointments to all the families," the CM stated.

The Chief Minister also advised the nurses from the Health and Family Welfare Department who were given appointment letters at the time to work cheerfully and sincerely. The charge nurse emphasised the need for the nurses to be courteous and to speak to the patients and their visitors with a smile and empathy.

Sarma asserts that the government would also provide nurses with soft skill training, such as computer and English lessons, to enable them to look into employment options outside of the state.

There is a big need for qualified nurses, and we want to improve our ladies' skills so they can work anywhere in the globe, he continued.

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