Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Bram Shanker Jimpa today honored 24 Gram Panchayats, 23 Schools and 23 Safai Sewaks of the state who have done excellent work in the terms of cleanliness, proper management of liquid and solid waste, beautifying the surroundings, spreading awareness about the importance of cleanliness and providing basic sanitary facilities to the citizens at a state level function to celebrate Swachh Bharat Diwas.
The event was organized in Municipal Bhawan, Sector 35. In his opening remarks, Jimpa said that the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is making significant efforts to make all the villages of the state neat, clean and garbage free. He said that it is the duty of the government to provide basic facilities to the people of the state and this work is being done with full sincerity.
He said that maintaining cleanliness is not only the work of safai sewaks but we all should take the initiative and should come forward and contribute to keep the state free from garbage. He said that we all are working hard to make our state 'Rangala Punjab' and it is our responsibility not to tarnish its beauty. He specially mentioned the efforts of all the safai sewaks to keep the state garbage free and said that the Punjab government is fully committed to the dignity of the safai sewaks.
Jimpa said that panchayats, schools and sanitation workers (safai sewaks) who have won state-level awards should inspire others to do good work so that Punjab can be made the number one state again. The cabinet minister also suggested that the Department of Water Supply and Sanitation must mobilize the NGOs, youth clubs and volunteers in rural areas to bring in the necessary behavioural changes to motivate people for Swachhta.
It is pertinent to mention that Punjab Government had launched the state-wide ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ campaign with the theme ‘Garbage Free India’ from 15th September to 2nd October 2023. The campaign was a joint initiative by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Government of India, under the flagship programs of Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) and Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) respectively.
The event was attended by former head of the department Mohammad Ishfaq (retired), Chief Engineers J.J. Goyal, Jaswinder Singh Chahal, Rajesh Khosla and Jasbir Singh, Director Sanitation Madam Naveen Verma and other officers and employees of the department.
‘Uttam Village’ (Best village) Award
Dhardeo (District Amritsar), Bhaini Mehraj (Barnala), Bhodipura (Bathinda), Lambwali (Faridkot), Bathan Khurd (Fathigarh Sahib), Panniwala Mahla (Fazilka), Mankya Wala (Firozepur), Dhamrai (Gurdaspur), Naru Nangal killa (Hoshiarpur), Rurka Kalan (Jalandhar), Manak (Kapurthala), Chahlan (Ludhiana), Manak Heri (Malerkotla), Manbibrian (Mansa), Patto Jawahar Singh Wala (Moga), Bhundar (Sri Muktsar Sahib), Mohi Kalan (Patiala), Manwal (Pathankot), Datarpur (Rupnagar), Gharachon (Sangrur), Bhadalwad (Sangrur), Majri (SAS Nagar), Mahal Khurd (S .BS Nagar) and Ram Singh Wala (Taran Taran).
'Uttam Safai Sevak' (Best sanitation worker) Award
Kulwant Singh (Dhardeo, Rayya), Mangu Ram (Bhotna, Shahina), Gurmeet Singh (Bhodipura, Bhagta Bhai Ka), Jaswinder Singh (Mumara, Faridkot), Satish Kumar (Bhamian, Khamanon), Sunil Kumar (Panj Kosi, Khuian Sarwar), Harcharan Singh (Kassoana, Zira), Lakhwinder Singh (Peroshah, Sri Hargobindpur), Kulwinder Kaur (Bilaspur, Hoshiarpur), Bastinder Singh (Lidhran, Jalandhar West) , Major Singh (Sidhwan, Kapurthala), Sumitra (Thakkarwal, Ludhiana-1), Rama (Manakheri, Malerkotla), Satya Prakash (Datewas, Budhlada), Karam Chand (Chotian Khurd, Moga-2), Sandeep Singh (Killanwali, Lambi), Gopal Verma (Hardaspur, Patiala Rural), Ravinder Ravidas (Manwal, Pathankot), Charanjit Singh (Datarpur, Morinda), Mukhtiar Singh (Mojowal, Sunam), Akash (Madanheri, Kharar), Sukhwinder Ram (Bharta Kalan, S.BS Nagar) and Ram Lal (Patti) names included.
'Uttam School' (Best School) Award
Village Jhanjoti (Amritsar), Uppli (Barnala), Pakkan Kalan (Bathinda), Sukhan Wala (Faridkot), Shamashpur (Fatehgarh Sahib), Chanan wala (Fazilka) , Bhangar/Satiye wala (Ferozepur), Kot Dhandal (Gurdaspur), Naru Nangal Khas (Hoshiarpur), Jamsher (Jalandhar), Sidhwan (Kapurthala), Aittiana (Ludhiana), Bagrian (Malerkotla), Jhunir (Mansa), Bilaspur (Moga), Udekaran (Sri Muktsar Sahib), Kalyan (Patiala), Badhani (Pathankot), Jhallian Kalan (Rupnagar), Tolawal (Sangrur), Mauli Baidwan (SAS Nagar), Hiala (SBS Nagar) and Khadur Sahib (Taran Taran).
Officers/Employees of the department
On this occasion, 7 officers/employees of the department were also honored for their good work, including Sarbjit Singh, Executive Engineer (Senior Environmentalist), Navneet Kumar Jindal, (Assistant District Sanitation Officer), Rajinder Singh (Junior Engineer), Rajiv Garg (Community Development Specialist), Poonam Rani , IEC Specialist, Sumita Soffat, (Community Development Specialist) and Sevya Sharma, (Community Development Specialist).