Varanasi: Giving a loud and clear warning that any kind of harassment of sanitation workers, especially wage cuts, would invite stern action, chief minister Yogi Adityanath, ahead of the 2027 assembly election, cautioned people against developing a mindset like “Kou nrip hove hame ka hani” (What loss is it to me, no matter who becomes the king) and urged them to stand with the truth.Describing sanitation workers as the “foundation stone” of urban life, Yogi on Thursday said they keep roads, lanes and localities clean while most people are asleep, braving winter, summer, rain and storms and working even during festivals to ensure a clean environment for citizens. Referring to the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh, he said cleanliness was widely appreciated despite the arrival of 66 crore devotees, crediting sanitation workers for their hard work.Addressing the Swachhta Mitra Samman Samaroh organised to mark the conclusion of the 76-day ward stay campaign of BJP City South MLA Neelkanth Tiwari, Yogi said the double-engine govt was fully committed to protecting the interests of the poor and ensuring dignity, security and fair payment to sanitation workers.Yogi said the state govt had taken strict note of complaints that sanitation workers engaged through agencies were earlier denied full payment or faced arbitrary deductions after completing their work. “This will not be tolerated now. If anyone cuts the honorarium or wages of sanitation workers, strict action will be taken,” he said.He said the Uttar Pradesh Outsource Corporation had made arrangements to ensure a minimum honorarium of Rs 16,000 for such workers. They would also get the benefits of ESI-linked medical treatment, insurance cover and provident fund. In case of accidental death, financial assistance would be provided to the family. The PF facility, he said, would help workers build savings for life after retirement.CM Yogi felicitated sanitation workers Wasim, Rohit Rawat, Rajkumar, Punwasi, Ashutosh, Dinesh, Sunil, Rekha, Alpana and Chinta Devi by presenting them with angavastrams and bags on the dais.Highlighting how Kashi had undergone a major transformation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership since 2014, Yogi said that earlier, the city struggled with filth, traffic jams, power shortages, stray cattle and land mafia. Today, Kashi is moving ahead with a new identity while preserving its spiritual and cultural heritage, he said, cautioning people against thinking along the lines of “Kou nrip hove hame ka hani” and urging them to stand with the truth.Taking a dig at family-based politics, Yogi said those who consider only their family as society and the state are destined to fail. He said real change is brought by those who treat society, the state and the nation as their family. He also criticised public representatives who, after winning elections, remain confined to Lucknow and do not return to their constituencies.Praising Tiwari’s campaign, Yogi said similar initiatives should be taken in all 403 assembly constituencies of Uttar Pradesh. A popular representative, he said, is one who reaches every household, understands people’s problems and ensures that eligible beneficiaries receive pensions, ration cards, Ayushman cards and other govt benefits.Tiwari said the campaign, held for the fourth consecutive year, covered all 24 wards of Varanasi South from July 19 to Oct 2. During the campaign, welfare camps were organised, over 800 saplings were planted, around 2,000 people received free eye check-ups and spectacles, and beneficiaries were linked with schemes such as PM SVANidhi and PM Vishwakarma.
