Chandigarh, 17 October, 2024: Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced today that the Punjab Government is actively considering a policy aimed at regularizing the services of sanitation workers across the state.
Speaking at a Shobha Yatra held on the eve of Valmiki Jayanti, Mann revealed that a high-level committee has already been formed to develop a viable mechanism for implementing this policy, ensuring that all stakeholders are taken into account during the process.
“The times have gone when one had to get down into the sewer to clean it. We need to update the system and utilize machines for the cleaning work,” Mann stated, emphasizing the need for modernization in sanitation practices.
He tinted that the government is in the process of bringing in advanced cleaning machines from outside the state, indicating a significant shift toward mechanization in sanitation work.
Mann addressed the issue of contractual sanitation workers, mentioning that AAP leader Chandan Grewal, who is also the chairman of the Safai Karamchari Commission, is a member of the committee formed to discuss the regularization of sanitation workers. Grewal is well-acquainted with the demands and challenges faced by these workers, which adds depth to the committee’s deliberations.
In an interview with The Tribune, Grewal shed light on the employment situation of sanitation workers in Jalandhar and beyond. “Most sanitation workers in Jalandhar are on the rolls, whereas in other parts of the state, such workers have been employed on a contractual basis,” he explained. Grewal reiterated that the regularization of these workers is among the Chief Minister’s top priorities, as the government seeks to address the issues they face and improve their working conditions.
Mann also took the opportunity to honor Bhagwan Valmiki, describing him as the “pitaamah” (father) of the Sanskrit language and the first poet, or Adi Kavi, of the world. He noted that Valmiki’s immortal composition, the “Ramayana,” carries a powerful message of the triumph of good over evil, reinforcing the importance of cultural heritage and moral values in society.
With this potential policy on the horizon, the Punjab Government is poised to take significant steps toward improving the lives and working conditions of sanitation workers, thereby addressing long-standing issues within the sector.
