(a) whether a large number of beneficiaries identified under the scheme
for rehabilitation of manual scavengers have not been rehabilitated;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whetlier despite the legal ban, manual scavenging
is still rampant in several parts of the country;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the action being taken by the Union Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (MUKUL WASNIK)
(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION
NO. 428 FOR 3.8.09 BY SH. M. ANANDAN REGARDING MANUAL SCAVENGERS.
(a) & (b): As per reports received from State Governments/Union Territory Administration there were 1.15 lakh manual
scavengers and their dependents eligible for rehabilitation under the Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of
Manual Scavengers (SRMS), out of which 47,236 persons have been rehabilitated upto 30.6,09.
(c) to (e): Sanitation is a State subject. However,in pursuance of clause (1) of Article 252 of the Constitution,
the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993 was enacted by Parliament.
As per the Act, no person shall (a) engage in or employ for or permit to be engaged in or employed for any other person
for manually carrying human excreta; or (b) construct or maintain a dry latrine. Contravention of these provisions is a
criminal offence. So far, the Act has been adopted by 20 States and all Union Territories. Five States, viz. Arunachal
Pradesh. Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim have reported that they have no dry latrines, or they are scavenger free.
Two States, viz. Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan have their own Acts. State of Jammu & Kashmir is yet to adopt the Act.
Enforcement of the Act lies with State Governments.
As per the available information,substantial number of dry latrines exist in four States, namely Bihar, Uttar Pradesh,
Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation is implementing the Integrated
Low Cost Sanitation Scheme, which aims at conversion of dry latrines into pour flush latrines. It has sanctioned conversion
of about 2.42 lakh existing dry latrines in the above four States, and for construction of 32,305 new latrines in a total
of 9 States during 2008-09 and 2009-10.