Chandigarh, Sep 11 (IANS) The Haryana government has announced a series of financial and welfare benefits for Gramin Safai Karmis, including an increase in their honorarium, higher uniform and washing allowances, compensation for duties outside their villages and compassionate appointments for a family member in the event of death while on duty. The benefits were conveyed by the Director, Development and Panchayat Department, Haryana, in an official memorandum dated September 10, issued to Deputy Commissioners, Chief Executive Officers of Zila Parishads and district- and block-level development and panchayat officials across the state.Under the decision, Gramin Safai Karmis will receive arrears arising from an increase of Rs 2,100 in their monthly honorarium from January 2026. The honorarium was increased from Rs 16,000 to Rs 18,100, with arrears payable for the period up to June 30, 2026.The government has also approved the release of outstanding honorarium for October 2023, covering eligible sanitation workers who were not paid for that month during the strike period. The order lists 48 workers in Dhand, 54 in Farukhnagar, 25 in Sihma and 15 in Nizampur, taking the total to 139 workers, subject to verification of official records.In another major decision, sanitation workers assigned duties outside their villages will be entitled to an allowance of Rs 200 per day. The amount will be paid by the concerned Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) office from petty expenses for such deployments.

The government has also increased the annual uniform allowance by Rs 2,000, raising it from Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000. The annual washing allowance has been increased by Rs 500, from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500.The order further provides that if a Gramin Safai Karmi dies while on duty, one family member will be offered an appointment on compassionate grounds.To protect families from being exploited by private agencies, BDPO offices have also been directed to assist the families of deceased sanitation workers in completing EPF and ESI death-claim paperwork.The government has additionally directed that the monthly honorarium of Gramin Safai Karmis must be disbursed by the seventh day of every month. In case of delay, a penalty of Rs 2,500 will be payable.The decisions were issued with the concurrence of the Finance Department, Haryana, according to the memorandum signed by Sushil Sarwan.

/IANS