category Regional, chandigarh, , tags Regional, chandigarh, , DW BUREAU Chandigarh 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. (editor dailyworld.in)