No manual scavenging in any district, says Union Minister Ramdas Athawale
Hyderabad: “There is no report of practice of manual scavenging in any district,” stated Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
Parliament enacted ‘The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act, 2013)’, which became effective with effect from December 6, 2013. As per the provisions of the Act, manual scavenging is prohibited and no person or agency can engage or employ any person for manual scavenging from that date.
Provisions of the MS Act 2013 mention that contraveners shall be punishable with fine or imprisonment or with both. Informing further, the Minister stated in the reply that under the Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) envisaged for rehabilitation of manual scavengers, the following benefits have been extended including one-time cash assistance of Rs.40,000 per family to all identified and eligible 58098 manual scavengers.
Capital subsidy up to Rs. 5 lakh has been provided to 2507 manual scavengers and their dependents to take up alternate self-employment projects. Skill Development Training has been provided to 24294 identified manual scavengers and their dependents with a stipend of Rs. 3,000 per month during the training period.
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment have requested all districts either to declare themselves free from manual scavenging or upload the data of insanitary latrine and manual scavengers associated with it on “Swachhta Abhiyan” mobile app. However, no credible data has been uploaded on the app so far.