Mohali, Aug. 9 -- Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday handed over 866 appointment letters to new recruits in various state government departments. Addressing the gathering, the chief minister said, "These 866 appointments include 636 candidates of the health and family welfare department, including 614 staff nurses, three pharmacists, 13 multi-purpose health workers, two ward attendants, 1 Class-4 employee and three sweepers. Besides, 101 candidates have been appointed in Sugarfed, 57 as junior auditors, 51 in the defence services welfare department, 11 in the cooperative department and 10 candidates as law officers in the home department." Stating that a total of 69,094 government jobs had been provided in just four-and-a-half years of AAP government, Mann said, "All appointments have been made purely on the basis of merit, transparency and fairness, without any recommendation or political influence. Gone are the days when jobs were given on the basis of bribery or recommendations. Today, the state government gives jobs only to eligible candidates." Congratulating the recruits, Mann urged them to remain humble and use their positions to serve people, particularlythe needy and underprivileged sections....