Chandigarh, July 27 -- Following the protests in Barnala, the Punjab government has hiked the monthly salaries of the contractual sanitation workers to Rs 20,500, State Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced on Monday.

Speaking to reporters in Chandigarh, Bains informed that the sanitation workers have called off their strike in Barnala.

He said, "This decision has been taken in the interest of our sanitation workers. The salaries of contract employees, which were previously only Rs 10,500, have been doubled to Rs 20,500; furthermore, work is being done to address various other welfare-related issues concerning them."

When asked about the police action against the protesting sanitation workers, the Punjab Minister said that Deputy Super...