Complaints against Manual Scavenging

Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013” (MS Act, 2013)has the following provisions for taking action against any person, local authority or any agency who engage or employ, either directly or indirectly   a manual scavenger:

(i)  Under Section 21(2) such offence may be tried summarily.

(ii) Under Section 22 every offence under the Act shall be cognizable and non-bailable.

(iii) As per the “Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Rules, 2013” the Inspector appointed under section 20 of the MS Act-2013 is empowered to serve a notice on the offender and take action in accordance with the provision of the Act.

States/Union Territories (UTs) are responsible for implementation of various provisions including the above provisions of the MS Act. After the notification of the Act all the States/UTs were informed details of  the provisions Act on which action is required to be taken by them.  Under section 24 (1) of the MS Act,2013 every State Government shall, by notification, constitute a Vigilance committee in each district and sub-division whose functions as per section 25 include monitoring the registration of offences under the Act and  their investigation and prosecution.  Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has not received any report in this regard.

State wise details of the number of manual scavengers identified and provided benefits for their rehabilitation are:

The identified manual scavengers are eligible for the following  rehabilitation benefits under Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers which is implemented by National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC);

I.  Onetime cash  assistance of Rs. 40000 each

II.  Skill development training with stipend of Rs. 3000 per month

III.  Loan assistance for income generating activity such as e-rikshaw, delivery van, beauty parlor, tailoring shop, fish stall, readymade garment shop, vegetable vending etc.

Proposals received from Punjab, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal for the comprehensive rehabilitation of willing and eligible identified manual scavengers and their dependents have been sanctioned by NSKFDC. In addition, all the three identified manual scavengers of Chhattisgarh have been provided regular employment in the Municipalities by the State Government.

This information was given by the Minister of State, Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Vijay Sampla in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha here today.