Regular jobs for over 4,500 sanitation staff, Punjab Cabinet gives approval

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 9

The Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi today approved the regularisation of services of at least 4,587 safai karamcharis and sewer men working with the Local Government Department. The move will put an additional financial burden of nearly Rs 46 crore on the exchequer for the first three years of probation period.

Key decisions

Excavation: Excavating earth from area up to 2 acres and up to 3 ft deep now non-mining activity

Power Tariff: Relief to consumers having load up to 7 KW from Nov 1, instead of Dec 1

Water dues Waived: Arrears of outstanding water bills worth Rs500 crore waived for all consumers

Crop relief Hike: Cotton crop loss relief hiked to Rs17,000 per acre wef June 1, 2021

The matter was taken up in the state Cabinet after it was flagged by Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu during CM Channi’s recent visit to Ludhiana.

It was pointed out that the Local Government Department, following a decision taken on June 23 this year, had already started the process to regularise 3,202 safai karamcharis and 1,385 sewer men working on a contractual basis.

Since the Punjab Protection and Regularisation of Contractual Employees Act, 2021, is not applicable to boards and corporation, the regularisation of the safai karamcharis and sewer men is being done by the Local Government Department in urban areas.

The Cabinet also took several other decisions, including easing of excavation norms and cut in power tariff effective from November 1.