Safaikarmcharis express gratitude to Chief Minister for Pay Hike and Enhanced Welfare Measures
Swachh Haryana is Inconceivable without the pivotal role of Safaikarmcharis, CM
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh–
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini while lauding the invaluable contribution of Safaikarmcharis (sanitation workers) in realizing the dream of Swachh Haryana, described them as the unsung heroes behind the state’s improved standards of cleanliness. Calling them the silent force behind Haryana’s cleaner streets and healthier communities, the Chief Minister said that the cleanliness that graces every street and neighbourhood in the state carries the invisible but tireless imprint of our safaikarmcharis.
The Chief Minister said this while addressing the safaikarmcharis who had especially come from across the State during a programme organized at his residence, Sant Kabir Kutir on Wednesday. During the event, the safaikarmcharis expressed their gratitude to the Chief Minister for the state government’s decision to raise their monthly wages by Rs. 2,100, a move announced on the occasion of Sant Kabir Jayanti held recently.
Addressing a gathering, the Chief Minister said these workers are not mere employees but the backbone of urban and rural hygiene infrastructure. He also extended his greetings to citizens on the occasion of Shivratri, stating, this is a moment to honour those who work silently behind the scenes to uphold public health and dignity.
Saini said that the role of safaikarmcharis extends far beyond cleaning streets and lifting waste. You are the sentinels of our environment and the guardians of public health. The idea of a ‘Swachh Haryana’ is incomplete without your contribution, he said.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the risks safaikarmcharis take daily. Recognising the dangers involved in sewer cleaning and waste management, he said that cleaning sewers is not just difficult, it is life-threatening. Yet you carry out these duties with dedication. Your work deserves not only our gratitude but our full support, he said, adding that cleanliness is tied to social progress and economic development.
Citing Mahatma Gandhi’s emphasis on cleanliness as a form of worship, the Chief Minister recalled how PM Narendra Modi transformed that philosophy into a national movement through the Swachh Bharat Mission launched on October 2, 2014. It is the safaikarmcharis who turned this resolve into reality, he said. You are not only cleaning our towns and villages, you are shaping a more conscious and healthier India, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
The Chief Minister said that Haryana’s recent achievements in cleanliness rankings. Sonipat has bagged the ‘Ministerial Star Award’ under the Clean City initiative, while Karnal has secured third place among 'Swachh Shahar' with a population between 50,000 and 3 lakh, he shared.
Divulging the details about the latest welfare measures, the Chief Minister said the monthly salary for urban safaikarmcharis has been revised to Rs. 17,000 and for rural workers to Rs. 16,000. The government has also introduced a compensation of Rs. 5 lakh in case of death while on duty and Rs. 10 lakh in case of a fatality while cleaning sewers.