(a) whether the benefits of the Indira AwasYojana(IAY) have been extended to manual scavengers irrespective of their Below Poverty Line(BPL) criteria;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the benefits extended to them during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise; and
(c) the other schemes/steps taken by the Government under rural development for the benefits of manual scavengers?
MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI BIRENDER SINGH)
(a) : Yes, Madam. Under IAY, manual scavengers irrespective of the BPL Status are eligible for financial assistance w.e.f. 24th February, 2015.
(b) : A statement indicating Funds utilized and Houses sanctioned to manual scavengers under IAY during last year and current year State/UT-wise is given in the Annexure.
(c) : Ministry of Rural Development has undertaken placement linked skill development programme called Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) for rural poor youth in which manual scavengers upto age of 45 years are eligible to undertake skill development courses.
The Ministry also has undertaken a pilot project on Persons Engaged in Unhygienic Occupations (PEiHO) - Manual Scavenging. The objective of this project is to rehabilitate the persons and households engaged in unhygienic occupations. The project focuses on rehabilitation interventions comprising identification of persons engaged in manual scavenging, livelihood interventions, advocacy, sensitization and access to entitlements.
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