Chandigarh, Feb. 19 -- In a major step towards strengthening sanitation, the municipal corporation (MC) Chandigarh has decided to directly collect garbage from markets and hotels across the city. For the first time, the civic body has signed agreements with 100 door-to-door garbage collectors exclusively for commercial areas. Each collector will be paid a monthly salary of Rs.25,000, with a proposed annual increment of 5%.

The collectors will work eight-hour shifts, with biometric attendance and periodic medical check-ups being made mandatory.

Under the new system, waste from food markets and hotels will be collected twice a day - in the morning and evening - to maintain hygiene. Civic officials said the move aims to address the persist...