Varanasi, Oct. 7 -- Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday announced several initiatives for sanitation workers, referred to as "Swachhata Mitras." He also showered flowers on them on the eve of Valmiki Jayanti. All sanitation workers will receive Ayushman Bharat cards for free medical treatment worth up to Rs.5 lakh per worker annually, he said on the first day of his two-day visit to Varanasi. He announced that Rs 16,000 to Rs 20,000 would directly be credited to sanitation workers' bank accounts, emphasising that "no one will be able to exploit them", according to an official statement. He said preparations, including the creation of a dedicated portal, are underway. Adityanath made the remarks at the Swachhata Mitra Samman ceremony in Varanasi where he honoured sanitation workers who contributed significantly during the Swachhata Hi Seva Pakhwada. He honoured 500 sanitation workers, providing them with angavastram, safety kits and sweets on the occasion. Rani Devi, Rupa, Neelam, Malti, Priyanshu, Deepak Kumar, Shatrudra, Tinku and Suraj Bharatiya were among the sanitation workers honoured on the occasion. He also announced that October 7 will be a public holiday on the occasion of Lord Valmiki Jayanti. He described Valmiki as "the architect of India's sage tradition" and a "guiding force of Sanatan Dharma". Recalling the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, he highlighted its impact in creating nationwide awareness about sanitation. He added that cleanliness initiatives, coupled with the Ayushman Bharat scheme, have reduced diseases and household expenses. On the occasion of Diwali, he called for a state-level initiative to distribute sweets to every sanitation worker and ensure that lamps and sweets reach every poor household. "Our duty is to unite society; we cannot allow divisive forces, such as the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, to tear it apart. This unity will form the foundation for a stronger, empowered, developed, and self-reliant India," he said....