Sangrur, May 16
Former Punjab Cabinet Minister and ex-Member of Parliament from Sangrur, Vijay Inder Singla, on Friday extended his support to sanitation workers (Safai Sevaks) protesting for their rights for the past several days. Joining the workers at the protest site, Singla described their demands as genuine and urged the Punjab Government to address their grievances without further delay.
Addressing the gathering, Singla said sanitation workers form the backbone of society as they perform some of the toughest and most hazardous duties. He expressed concern that despite their contribution, they are still being forced to protest for their basic rights. Recalling his long association with the community, he said he has always considered sanitation workers as part of his family and has consistently raised his voice for their welfare and dignity.
The senior Congress leader alleged that although orders to regularize 29 contractual employees in Sangrur were issued through his intervention earlier, the present Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has failed to implement them properly or complete the employees’ service records. He also accused the government of misleading contractual workers with false promises of regularization.
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Targeting the AAP government over its election guarantees, Singla said the promise of providing ₹1,000 per month to every woman in Punjab remains unfulfilled. He claimed that the government now owes each eligible woman more than ₹48,000 in pending dues. He further remarked that workers once hailed as “Corona Warriors” during the pandemic are now being neglected by the same government.
Singla also highlighted his earlier efforts to remove the one-kilowatt load restriction under the 200-unit free electricity scheme to ensure laborers and poor families could benefit fully from the policy.
Expressing solidarity with the protesters, Singla sat with the workers and shared Langar with them. He said the sanitation workers are his strength and family, assuring them that he would continue to stand with them in their struggle and support them at every stage.
Concluding his address, Singla warned that ignoring sanitation workers’ concerns could seriously impact public health and hygiene. He urged the Punjab Government to immediately resolve the issue and ensure the workers receive the respect and rights they deserve. He also reiterated that the Congress Party would continue to stand firmly with the protesting workers until their demands are fulfilled.
