On PM’s 75th birthday: Surat cleaning workers felicitated; Rs 10 crore funds raised for their welfare

The fund will provide interest-free loans for education, health, housing, marriage, and vehicle expenses, he said.

Paatil also launched SMC’s Green Vehicle Policy 2025, described as the first such policy by a civic organisation in the country. Building upon the success of the Surat EV Policy 2021, the new policy goes beyond electric vehicles and promotes the use of alternative fuels, green manufacturing, resilient infrastructure, and recycling ecosystems, sources in SMC had earlier told The Indian Express.

“This programme is dedicated to the thousands of cleaning workers of Surat Municipal Corporation. With their dedication to work, Surat stood in the top position in the Super Swachh League 2024 of Swachh Bharat Survekshan,” Paatil said.

He explained that the idea for the welfare fund came after discussions with friends and political leaders in Surat. “With the help of donors, we have generated Rs 10 crore, which will be deposited in a bank account. The interest of such an amount will be given to the cleaning workers in the form of interest-free loans,” he said, adding that a committee of SMC officials headed by the Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agarwal will approve and disburse loans within two days of application.

“Surat has become the first city in the country where such an amount has been raised through donations, and it will be used for cleaning workers. In the future, anyone wishing to donate funds can contact SMC and have the amount deposited into the bank account,” he added.

Paatil also announced that Rs 5 crore had been donated for the welfare of cleaning workers of Navsari Municipal Corporation and Gandevi Nagar Palika.

“The city was once recognised as a dirty city in the country, and nobody wanted to come to Surat. It was through joint efforts by the SMC officials and elected representatives that Surat has now reached the top position in the country,” he said.

Noted playback singer and music composer Kailash Kher performed at the event and donated his fee of Rs 50 lakh to the cause, calling it a “humanitarian gesture”.

The programme was attended by local BJP leaders, state cabinet ministers, Surat BJP office-bearers, SMC officials, and thousands of municipal cleaning workers.

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