Punjab Govt took historic steps for sanitation workers’ welfare: MLA Kulwant Singh
Babushahi Bureau
SAS Nagar (Punjab), July 31, 2026: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Kulwant Singh on Friday said the Punjab Government has taken several historic decisions for the welfare of sanitation workers and appealed to aggrieved groups to resolve their concerns through dialogue instead of continuing strikes.
Addressing a press conference, Kulwant Singh said sanitation workers perform one of the most difficult and essential services in society and deserve better working conditions and social security.
He said the state government had doubled the monthly salary of sanitation workers from ₹10,000 to ₹20,000 and taken steps to end the contractual or thekedari system in favour of direct government engagement.
He further said the government had created a clear pathway for the regularisation of contractual employees who have completed three or more years of service.
Acknowledging that some groups of sanitation workers were still on strike, the MLA urged union leaders and workers to return to work and restore sanitation services.
He said public health and cleanliness should not be affected and assured that all legitimate and reasonable demands would be addressed through direct discussions with government representatives.
Kulwant Singh said the AAP government had earlier resolved issues concerning PSPCL employees, health workers and MGNREGA staff through dialogue. He also urged sanitation workers not to allow their concerns to be used for political purposes.
Highlighting infrastructure development in Mohali, the MLA said more than ₹700 crore had been allocated to the district from the state’s power-sector reform budget of over ₹5,000 crore.
He said old electricity wiring, transformers and hazardous junction boxes were being replaced across urban and rural areas, including Manauli and Kambala.
He added that pre-monsoon maintenance work, including cleaning of pipelines, desilting and clearing of road gullies, had been completed to reduce waterlogging in vulnerable areas such as Phases 4 and 5.
Kulwant Singh also highlighted the state government’s welfare initiatives, including 300 units of free electricity, health insurance cover of up to ₹10 lakh, free medicines and diagnostic tests at Aam Aadmi Clinics, and monthly financial assistance of ₹1,500 for women.
He expressed confidence that the remaining issues concerning sanitation workers would be resolved through dialogue and reiterated the government’s commitment to the overall development of Mohali and Punjab.
Senior Deputy Mayor of the Municipal Corporation, Mohali, Rajinder Prashad Sharma, Deputy Mayor Harpal Singh Channa and other leaders were present at the press conference.