Punjab to recruit 619 women health workers, bypasses SSSB for faster hiring
Synopsis
Punjab is filling 619 long-pending multipurpose health worker vacancies — and to cut through bureaucratic delay, it is bypassing the state's own recruitment board entirely, handing the process to Baba Farid University of Health Sciences. With ₹16.12 crore in annual cost implications and 53 posts requiring Cabinet revival, the move is as much about administrative reform as it is about public health.
Key Takeaways
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema approved the recruitment of 619 women multipurpose health workers on 2 July .
Posts are split into 220 direct recruitment vacancies (under one year), 346 promotional positions (trained dai to health worker), and 53 revived abolished posts .
Pay scale fixed at ₹21,700–₹69,100 (Level-3) under Punjab Health and Family Welfare Technical (Group-C) Rules, 2025.
Recruitment will be conducted by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot , bypassing the Punjab SSSB to avoid delays; SSSB consented on 3 December 2025 .
Annual financial implication during probation: approximately ₹16.12 crore .
Revival of the 53 abolished posts still requires formal Council of Ministers approval.
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema has approved the recruitment of 619 women multipurpose health workers under the Department of Health and Family Welfare, in a move the state government says will directly strengthen grassroots public health delivery. The approvals were cleared on 2 July and cover a mix of direct recruitment and promotional appointments.
Breakdown of the 619 Posts
Of the total vacancies, 220 posts have been lying unfilled for less than one year, while 346 posts are designated as promotional positions — designed to elevate eligible candidates from the cadre of trained dai to multipurpose health worker. The remaining 53 posts had been vacant for over a year and were abolished under the Finance Department's standing guidelines dated 6 June 2019; these will now be formally revived following approval from the Council of Ministers.
Pay Scale and Service Rules
The recruited health workers will be placed in the pay scale of ₹21,700–₹69,100 at Level-3, as prescribed under the Punjab Health and Family Welfare Technical (Group-C) Service (First Amendment) Rules, 2025. Filling these posts will entail an additional annual financial outgo of approximately ₹16.12 crore per annum during the mandatory probation period, according to the Finance Minister.
Why SSSB Was Bypassed
In a notable procedural shift, the state government has decided to route the entire recruitment process through Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, rather than the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board (SSSB). The rationale cited is the prolonged timelines typically associated with SSSB-led hiring. Notably, the SSSB has already formally consented to this arrangement via an official communication dated 3 December 2025. This reflects a broader administrative push to accelerate public-sector staffing without compromising process legitimacy.
Context and Significance
Multipurpose health workers are a critical link in India's primary healthcare chain, responsible for maternal and child health services, immunisation, and community outreach — particularly in rural and semi-urban areas. Chronic vacancies in this cadre have long been flagged as a bottleneck in Punjab's public health infrastructure. This recruitment drive, if executed on schedule, could meaningfully reduce the gap. Cheema also noted that the state has separately cleared a proposal from the Department of Industries to revive direct recruitment cadres for maintaining operational efficiency in the industrial sector, signalling a wider administrative reform push.
What Happens Next
The revival of the 53 abolished posts requires formal clearance from the Council of Ministers before the recruitment process can begin in full. Once that approval is secured, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences will oversee the hiring. The state has not yet announced a specific timeline for completing the recruitment, but the bypassing of SSSB is intended to significantly compress the process.
Point of View
But it sets a precedent worth watching. The Board exists to ensure competitive, transparent hiring; routing recruitment through a university — even one that has consented — shifts accountability in ways that are not fully tested. The more substantive question is whether filling these posts will translate into measurable improvements in Punjab's primary healthcare indicators, particularly maternal and child health outcomes in rural districts, or whether the announcement remains an administrative headline without a delivery framework attached.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 619 posts approved by Punjab for recruitment?
The 619 posts are for women multipurpose health workers under Punjab's Department of Health and Family Welfare, comprising 220 direct recruitment vacancies, 346 promotional positions elevating trained dais, and 53 previously abolished posts to be revived with Cabinet approval.
Why is Baba Farid University of Health Sciences conducting the recruitment instead of SSSB?
The Punjab government decided to bypass the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board due to the prolonged timelines associated with its hiring processes. Baba Farid University of Health Sciences in Faridkot will instead manage recruitment, and the SSSB formally consented to this arrangement on 3 December 2025.
What is the pay scale for the recruited health workers?
The multipurpose health workers will be placed in the pay scale of ₹21,700–₹69,100 at Level-3, as per the Punjab Health and Family Welfare Technical (Group-C) Service (First Amendment) Rules, 2025.
What is the financial cost of this recruitment drive?
Filling the 619 posts will cost the state approximately ₹16.12 crore per annum during the mandatory probation period, according to Finance Minister Harpal Cheema.
What needs to happen before all 619 posts can be filled?
The 53 posts that were abolished under Finance Department guidelines of 6 June 2019 must be formally revived through approval from the Council of Ministers before the full recruitment process can proceed.
