Harjot Bains joins Safai Sewaks over tea during surprise visit to Ludhiana
Seeks Ground-Level Inputs for Mission Clean Punjab
Babushahi Bureau
Ludhiana (Punjab), June 12, 2026: In an unusual early-morning interaction aimed at strengthening Punjab's sanitation drive, Local Government Minister Harjot Singh Bains sat down with sanitation workers over tea during a surprise inspection in Ludhiana, stressing that cleaner cities can only be built by listening to those who work on the ground every day.
The minister visited areas under the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation near DMC Hospital on Friday morning. Instead of conducting a conventional inspection, Bains pulled up a small roadside stool and joined a group of safai sewaks engaged in cleaning operations, spending nearly 20 minutes discussing sanitation challenges, waterlogging issues and the availability of safety equipment.
During the interaction, the sanitation workers shared their experiences and offered suggestions for improving cleanliness and civic services in the city.
Highlighting the importance of field-level feedback, Bains said the people responsible for keeping cities clean are often the best source of practical solutions.
"The people who keep this city clean every single day are the best experts on how to make it better. You don't learn this sitting in a closed room. You learn it on a stool, with chai, beside the person holding the broom," the minister said.
Bains emphasized that the Punjab Government's Mission Clean Punjab would not be driven solely through official files or administrative directives. Instead, he said, the initiative would focus on understanding real challenges faced by sanitation workers and incorporating their suggestions into policy implementation.
"Mission Clean Punjab will not be driven by files and fines alone. If we want cleaner cities, we must start by respecting the hands that keep them clean. Respect and dignity come first; the rest will follow," he said.
The minister also reiterated the commitment of the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government towards the welfare and dignity of sanitation workers, describing them as key stakeholders in the state's urban development and cleanliness initiatives.
The interaction formed part of the government's ongoing efforts to improve civic infrastructure, sanitation services and public engagement under the broader Mission Clean Punjab campaign.