A high-level Government panel of the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on Wednesday claimed that with the conversion of most of the insanitary latrines into sanitary latrines under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the problem of manual scavenging has been eliminated in the country.
But at the same time, it admitted that only 508 districts out of the total 766 districts in the country have declared themselves free from the inhuman practice.
This was disclosed at the eighth meeting of the Central Monitoring Committee held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Dr Virendra Kumar, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment to review the implementation of the “Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.” The Committee noted that with the conversion of most of the insanitary latrines into sanitary latrines under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the problem of manual scavenging was eliminated. Presently there is no evidence of the continuation of the practice of manual scavenging.
However, it also pointed out that “All States/Districts have been requested to declare their district free from manual scavenging. As on date, such confirmation from 520 districts out of 766 districts in the country has already been received.
The Committee suggested to follow up with the remaining districts,” said a statement from the Ministry. The Committee was informed that the Ministry had initiated two surveys of manual scavengers in 2013 and then in 2018.
“During these surveys, a total of 58,098 eligible manual scavengers had been identified and all of them have been provided the One Time Cash Assistance of Rs. 40,000.
Out of these, 22,294 willing identified manual scavengers/dependants have been provided Skill development training and Capital Subsidy has been released in respect of 2,313 manual scavengers/dependants who have availed bank loans for self-employment projects. In addition to this, 641 Safai Karmacharis and their dependents have been sanctioned capital subsidy for sanitation related projects to minimise death during sewer and septic tank cleaning,” the statement further said.
To eliminate hazardous cleaning, stop deaths of sewer and septic tank workers and ensure their safety and dignity, a Scheme National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) has been formulated.
It will be implemented in all 4800 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of the country, during the three years till 2025-26 with an outlay of Rs. 349.70 crore. (MS Act, 2013). This important Central Act was enacted by the Parliament in September, 2013 and came into force in December, 2014. It aims at complete elimination of the manual scavenging in its various manifestations and comprehensive rehabilitation of the identified manual scavengers.
The meeting was also attended by the Union Minister of State for the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, Chairman, National Commission for Safai Karamcharis, Secretary, DoSJE, Principal Secretaries/Secretaries of States and representatives from the Central Ministries/Departments/Commissions.