Question : Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1243
TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2021

REHABILITATION OF MANUAL SCAVENGERS
1243. SHRI L.S. TEJASVI SURYA:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the date of outlawing of manual scavenging in the country and the punishment for the same along with the details and the estimated number of manual scavengers in the country at the time of outlawing it;
(b) whether the Government is taking cognizance of the existence of manual scavenging in the country, if so, the details thereof and the estimated number of such individuals;
(c) whether the Government has taken up rehabilitation and counselling of persons involved in manual scavenging, if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has undertaken reskilling of persons involved in manual scavenging, if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government is considering introducing more henious punishment for individuals forcing persons to indulge in manual scavenging, if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)

(a) and (b): The “Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013”(MS Act, 2013), bans manual scavenging, w.e.f. 6.12.2013.
Two surveys have been conducted by the concerned local authorities in years 2013 and 2018 to identify manual scavengers as per the MS Act, 2013. These surveys identified 58,098 eligible manual scavengers.
(c) and (d): The Central Sector, "Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers" (SRMS) provides rehabilitation benefits to manual scavengers and their dependants, which includes re-skilling in alternative occupations, as under:
i. One Time Cash Assistance of Rs. 40,000/- to one identified manual scavenger in family.
ii. Skill Development Training to identified manual scavengers and their dependants for their skilling in alternative occupations with stipend@ Rs. 3,000/- per month.
iii. Concessional loan upto Rs.15 lakhs for self employment projects with capital subsidy upto Rs. 5.00 lakhs.
iv. Sensitisation campaigns and workshops organised with officers, engineers, sanitary inspectors, contractors, sanitation workers to senitize them about safe and healthy cleaning practices for sewers and septic tanks cleaning.
National Safai Karamcharis Finance Development Corporation (NSKFDC) is the nodal agency for implementation of SRMS. The following are the achievement of cumulative coverage under SRMS:-
S.No. Particulars of benefits provided Coverage
1. One time Cash Assistance of Rs. 40,000/- to identified manual scavengers (one in a family) 58,098`
2. Skill Development Training 16,057
3. Capital Subsidy for Self Employment Project 1387
4. Workshops 798

(e) : No sir.
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