Question : Manual Scavenging

(a) the total number of manual scavengers in the country, State/UT-wise;

(b) whether the Government has initiated a Self Employment Scheme for rehabilitation of manual scavengers and if so, the details thereof indicating number of manual scavengers benefitted and funds sanctioned/utilised in this regard during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(c) whether the Government provides onetime cash assistance of Rs. 40,000 and monthly stipend of Rs. 3000 for Skill Development Training and rehabilitation of manual scavengers;

(d) if so, the details and the status of implementation thereof along with the number of manual scavengers enrolled in such courses; and

(e) whether the Government has issued any directives to the States regarding implementation of laws related to prohibition of manual scavenging and if so, the details and outcome thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)

(a): As per the Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011 (SECC-2011) data which is based on respondent input as revealed by the household to the enumerator and released by Ministry of Rural Development 1,82,505 respondent households in rural areas reported themselves as manual scavengers. State-wise details are given in Annexure-1-A. However, this does not reveal manual scavenging as their main source of income. SECC-2011 data in respect of urban areas has not been released. Under the “Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act, 2013)” which has come into force with effect from 06.12.2013, the claim of any person of being a manual scavenger is to be got verified by the local authority for inclusion in the list of identified manual scavengers to become eligible for rehabilitation as per the provisions of the MS Act, 2013. Accordingly, the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations have been requested to verify the SECC-2011 data of manual scavengers and upload the list of identified manual scavengers on the website www.mssuvey.nic.in for their rehabilitation. As per reports received from the States and Union Territories (UTs) upto 30.11.2015 there are 12,226 identified manual scavengers. State/UT wise details are given in Annexure-I-B.

(b) to (d): Subsequent to coming into force of the “Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013” (MS Act, 2013), the Self Employment Scheme for the Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) was revised in November, 2013 to provide the following benefits to the identified Manual Scavengers:
(i) Onetime cash assistance of Rs.40000/- to identified manual scavengers.
(ii) Loans for project cost upto Rs. 15.00 lacs on concessional rates of interest.
(iii) Credit linked back-end capital subsidy upto Rs. 3,25,000/-.
(iv) Skill Development Training upto two years with stipend of Rs.3000/- per month.
The above scheme is implemented through National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC). State-wise details of beneficiaries and expenditure incurred in this regard are given in Annexure-II (A & B).
(e) Does not arise since ‘Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013’ (MS Act, 2013) extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu & Kashmir and accordingly all States/UTs are required to mandatorily comply with the provisions of the Act.