(a) whether the Government has made a policy decision to eradicate the manual scavenging in the country;
(b) if so, the amount earmarked in the current financial year for this purpose;
(c) whether the Government has taken up with various Ministries/Departments of the Government for implementation of this policy decision; and
(d) if so, the details of such Ministries which have yet to implement the policy?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN EMPLOYMENT & POVERTY ALLEVIATION ( KUMARI SELJA )
(a): Yes, Sir. Government has formulated the National Action
Plan for Total Eradication of Manual Scavenging by 2007.
(b): In the Budget Estimate (BE) for the financial year
2005-06, an amount of Rs.30 crore has been allocated for the
Integrated Low Cost Sanitation Scheme for Liberation of
Scavengers, a component of the National Action Plan. The scheme
envisages conversion of dry latrines into twin pit water borne
flush latrines enabling liberation of manual scavengers.
(c)&(d): A central Monitoring committee under the chairmanship
of Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has been
constituted to monitor the implementation of the National Action
Plan.