Mayor Vaneet Dhir, Nitin Kohli and Chandan Grewal’s efforts pay off; Jalandhar MC gets historic approval for 1,196 Safai-Sevaks after 35 years

“Heartfelt thanks, deep appreciation, immense gratitude, and praise to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Dr. Ravjot Singh for this important decision. The Punjab Government’s unwavering commitment to the public and progressive vision is truly commendable.”

Jalandhar(The Uttam Hindu): A 35-year-old pending demand of the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation turned into a major achievement today as the Local Bodies Department approved the appointment of 1,196 Safai-Sevaks (sanitation staff) to strengthen the city’s cleanliness system. Despite Jalandhar’s expanding boundaries and rapidly increasing population, the Municipal Corporation had long been operating under severe manpower shortage, placing immense pressure on sanitation and sewerage operations. With this historic approval, the Corporation will finally have adequate staff to manage civic services more efficiently and systematically.

Nitin Kohli, Jalandhar Central Halka Incharge, played a decisive and persistent role in pushing this approval forward. He prioritised the matter, held several meetings in Chandigarh, and ensured continuous follow-up. He was supported by Mayor Vaneet Dhir, Chairman of Safai Union Punjab Chandan Grewal, and Municipal Commissioner Sandeep Rishi, who contributed to completing key documentation and administrative formalities. Following these coordinated efforts, Local Bodies Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh issued the official approval.

Mayor Vaneet Dhir said the decision is extremely significant for Jalandhar, as the Municipal Corporation is finally receiving resources it has urgently needed for decades. He emphasised that Nitin Kohli’s commitment, persistence, and relentless follow-up were central to securing this long-awaited approval. He added that the impact of this development will soon be visible across the city’s streets, markets and wards.

Nitin Kohli said that this historic approval reflects the vision and continuous support of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and the Aam Aadmi Party government. He stated that the government has consistently stood with the people and prioritised public welfare. Such decisions for the betterment of citizens and the development of cities demonstrate that this is one of the best and most people-centric governments Punjab has seen.

He further added that a crucial initiative like the recruitment of 1,196 sanitation staff became possible only because of the government’s people-first approach. He said this decision would accelerate Jalandhar’s journey towards becoming a cleaner, healthier, and better-managed city.

Nitin Kohli also reiterated that his goal is to make Jalandhar a clean, modern and well-organised city. The addition of these 1,196 staff members will significantly enhance the corporation’s efficiency, speed up sanitation operations, strengthen sewerage maintenance, and contribute to the city’s overall beautification. He added that his commitment to public welfare and development will continue with the same dedication.

For years, the Municipal Corporation has been struggling with acute staff shortages. With this approval—covering Safai-Sevaks (sanitation workers), sewermen, fitter-helpers, drivers, and gardeners—vacancies in key departments will finally be filled. This will bolster sanitation services, sewerage management, park maintenance, and overall municipal functioning, giving a major boost to Jalandhar’s civic development.