Bathinda: With the ongoing sanitation workers’ protest entering the 25th day, Punjab govt on Saturday stepped up outreach efforts, with Aam Aadmi Party MLAs across the state assuring protesters that their demands would be addressed.The major demands include the regularisation of services, a wage hike and implementation of the old pension scheme (OPS). AAP MLAs held press conferences in Bathinda, Moga, Faridkot and Fazilka, reiterating the Bhagwant Mann govt’s commitment to the welfare of sanitation workers and urging them to have faith in its assurances.In Bathinda, MLA Baljinder Kaur, accompanied by Mayor Padamjit Singh Mehta, said the govt had already fulfilled several demands and the remaining ones would be met soon. She claimed sanitation workers’ wages had doubled over the past four years.Nihal Singh Wala MLA Manjit Singh Bilaspur, accompanied by AAP Moga district president Barinder Kumar, said the Mann govt had taken “historic” steps for sanitation workers and remained committed to the welfare of every section of society.At Faridkot, MLAs Gurdit Singh Sekhon and Amolak Singh said the govt had accepted demands related to the regularisation of contractual and outsourced employees and enhanced their wages. They claimed no previous govt had done as much for sanitation workers in the past four-and-a-half years.Meanwhile, talks between the striking workers and the govt remained stalled. A meeting between union representatives and ministers, expected on Friday, did not take place.Safai Workers’ Union adviser Kuldeep Kumar said, “We received no call from the ministers for talks on Friday. We will wait for the call to hold parleys.”
