No more exploitation of sanitation workers
Punjab State Safai Karamchari Commission chairman Geja Ram has sought a complete inquiry report in the next 10 days in the alleged case of financial exploitation of sewer men and pump operators by the contractor in Phagwara Municipal Corporation. The chairman of the commission directed the enquiry after visiting Kapurthala. Taking a serious note of providing salary of only RsRs=5,000-6,000 per month against Rs10,000 to the pump operators and sewer men by contactors, the chairman said the commission had adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards exploitation of safai karamcharis. He also said with the intervention of safai commission, members of Mohalla Sudhar committees are getting salary as per collector rates as compared to Rs 2,400 per month earlier. Phagwara Municipal Corporation has also issued a letter in this regard.
Ensuring the insurance of beneficiaries
Hariom Sharma, a Phagwara-based social worker, and a Good Samaritan, provided Ayushman Bharat Health Insurance cards to beneficiaries. To help the locals avail the benefit of the Ayushman Bharat Health Insurance scheme, an awareness camp was also organised by Sharma in the Gonspur area of ward No. 11. Hariom distributed cards to those who had applied for the for them online, in a door-to-door campaign. Sharma told the beneficiaries that they can avail the free medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakh under the scheme. He further added to help the physically disabled, elderly and widows in getting their monthly pensions.
Leaving youths in lurch
While the administration has been claiming to take action against illegal agents, seven more youths of Shivpuri area in Phagwara have fallen prey to an illegal travel agent. He duped the youths of Rs 1 lakh each on the pretext of sending them to Dubai. Baldev Kumar, a resident of Shivpuri, told the police that they had approached the accused travel agent through a poster, who later asked them to pay Rs 50,000 each for work visa. “After few days, he again demanded Rs 50,000 in two installments and asked for our passports and other documents, however he neither gave us our money nor the visa. We have been in lurch for the past six months,” added Baldev. TNS
