Government initiatives and guidelines of the Supreme Court
The government initiatives and guidelines taken by the Supreme Court are as follows:
- Supreme Court in the year 2014 asked the government to mandatorily identify all the manual scavengers who died since 1993 and to provide their families ₹10 lakh compensation.
- Around 58000 manual scavengers were identified and were given ₹40000 one-time cash payout. The government is also connecting manual scavengers to skill development programmes.
- To fully mechanise the sewer work, the scheme for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers has been merged with the NAMASTE Scheme. Under the NAMASTE Scheme, septic tanks and sewers are identified and profiled.
Manual Scavenging in India
Manual Scavenging in India is the removal of human excreta by hand or buckets from sewers, septic tanks or drains. Its practice is banned in India. Manual scavenging means carrying and disposing of human excreta. The handling of excreta is done in an open sewer or drain septic tank or pit. The tools such as buckets, shovels and brooms are used to clean the human excreta. Manual Scavenging is an issue which has been there in India for a long time now. Manual Scavenging was banned in India in the year 1993 because it was found to violate fundamental rights. The practice of manual scavenging is most popular in India and still prevalent in India despite its ban.
Table of Content
- What is Manual Scavenging?
- Constitutional Provisions against Manual Scavenging
- Legal Provisions Regarding Manual Scavenging
- Reasons for the Prevalence of Manual Scavenging
- Impacts of Manual Scavenging
- Government initiatives and guidelines of the Supreme Court
- Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Report on Manual Scavenging
- Recent Developments on Manual Scavenging in India
- FAQs on Manual Scavenging in India