In its endeavour to address the issue of manual scavengers in the national Capital, Delhi Social Welfare Minister Rajendera Pal Gautam on Thursday met the members of Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce Industry (DICCI) and Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), Hyderabad representatives. The meeting was held in the backdrop of September 24 meeting by the officer the social welfare department with the official after the death of five manual scavengers in Moti Nagar in West district.
The Government also had announced the implementation of hi-tech instruments to avoid the deaths of people involved in this menial job.
The State monitoring committee was constituted as per the provisions of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 to review the steps taken to stop manual scavenging deaths in national Capital.
Notably, on September 25, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) issued orders to all the District Magistrates (DMs) to prepare a survey report on scavengers and submit it within a week.
Briefing the media about the cabinet decision, Gautam and Delhi Government spokesperson Nagender Sharma announced that a Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) on this issue has been forwarded to Urban Development department.
"A state level monitoring committee has been formed to monitor loopholes if any to prevent unfortunate loss of lives. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who chaired the meeting also said that whosoever is responsible for the death of these scavengers will be punished hard", Gautam said.
"CM Kejriwal has asked officers to take stern action and those found responsible for the death of manual scavengers, should be charged with section 304( culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)," the minister said.
It may be noted that, the tragic death of five scavengers in DLF Capital Greens residential colony in Moti Nagar area of West Delhi, had created quite an uproar. Delhi Labour Minister Gopal Rai had ordered an enquiry by the Additional Labour Commissioner. It was revealed that JLL the company managing the faculty services of the complex was not having requisite license.
Delhi government has decided to provide civil defence jobs, compensation, and training to these people working who clean drains and directions have been given to the monitoring committee to submit reports in every six month. "Earlier, the eligibility criteria was Metric pass, however, today in cabinet it was decided that job will be given irrespective of their qualification," said Gautam .
The nodal agencies are Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and Municipal Corporation because they send the manual scavengers," the minister said, adding, "Since the Urban Development department is parent body and will keep track on SoPs and on the report of monitoring committee."