New Delhi: Even as
actor-activist Aamir Khan Monday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
to raise the age-old issue of manual scavenging the government
said it is taking up the matter as "top priority" and a draft bill
with stricter provisions on eradicating the dehumanising practise
and rehabilitating the people involved is to be introduced in the
monsoon session of parliament.
According to Census 2011, there are around 700,000 manual
scavengers in the country engaged in the task of removing and
transporting night soil. Of these, 586,067 are in the rural areas
and 2,08,323 in the urban areas.
"Yes, we know it persists, and we are taking up this matter as top
priority. The draft for the Prohibition of Employment as Manual
Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Bill, 2012 is under
circulation to the concerned ministries and departments. We intend
to introduce it in the monsoon session of parliament. Everything
is in the process," Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Mukul
Wasnik told IANS.
"We are working out a survey of the manual scavengers in the
country. Data on manual scavengers would be available soon," the
minister added.
Elaborating on the rehabilitation of scavengers, the minister
said: "The rehabilitation scheme is being implemented through
state channelizing agencies. Whenever a state government demands
funds for rehabilitation programme, the amount will be sanctioned
as per its proposal."
According to Safai Karmachari Andolan (SKA), a voluntary
organisation working for manual scavengers, the funds for
rehabilitation have been almost tripled from Rs.1.36 crore
(Rs.13.6 million) in 2007-08 to Rs.3.43 crore (Rs.34.3 mn) in
2010-11.
Aamir Khan, who highlighted the issue in a recent episode of his
popular television programme "Satyameva Jayate", met the prime
minister and Wasnik over the issue Monday. Meanwhile, around 200
scavengers from across Maharashtra protested in Mumbai to demand
an end to the pernicious practice.
The protesters, led by a social group Campaign Against Manual
Scavenging in Maharashtra, are demanding alternate and dignified
jobs, decent housing and education.
Highlighting their plight, Sumitra, a manual scavenger who hails
from Nand Nagri, north Delhi, told IANS: "I don't have a choice.
I'm at the absolute bottom of the society, the job came as a
legacy. But I don't want my children to touch these baskets.
During rains it is terrible doing this filthy job."
According to the census, 23 lakh of the country's total population
use dry or non-flush latrines and over a lakh defecate in open
spaces.
To government has enacted the Employment of Manual Scavengers and
Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act in 1993, according
to which construction of dry latrines and employment of scavengers
to clean it would invite imprisonment up to one year and a fine of
Rs.2,000 or both. The Act has not been effectively implemented
since its formulation 19 years ago.
The National Advisory Council (NAC) headed by Congress president
Sonia Gandhi had been stressing for years on the need to come up
with a stricter law and Gandhi had also written to the prime
minister in October 2010 to take immediate action.
Stressing on the need for a stronger law, former NAC member Harsh
Mander told IANS: "The 1993 law is weak, it needs to be replaced.
The NAC has been stressing for a new law and a stronger bill to
eradicate the inhuman practice, which persists in India despite
being banned. We need a stronger law, as it is not just a
sanitation issue, but a question of fundamental rights and
dignity."
The Delhi Commission for Safai Karmcharis says the proposed bill
which is supposed to include emancipation of manual scavengers
should include in its ambit all forms of sanitary workers such as
sewage cleaners and septic tank cleaners.
"Since sewer workers have to enter manholes filled with fermented
faeces and are also at risk, they should be covered by the bill.
This practice is still prevalent under official patronage at all
levels. The new bill should emancipate sanitary workers of all
levels," Harnam Singh, chairman of the Delhi Commission for Safai
Karmcharis, told IANS.
Accusing the government of not being serious about the issue, D.
Raja, national secretary, Communist Party of India (CPI) told
IANS: "Despite several legislations and an Act, manual scavenging
continues in the country and is a national shame. This indicates
the callousness of the government. Around 19 years ago, the
government has created an Act and now it is saying they will
introduce a bill. This is just a question of passing time."
He also said the CPI had suggested that the government call a
meeting of chief ministers of those states where manual scavenging
is prevalent to work on measures to eradicate it.
"A law, a new bill or giving money to the state governments will
not eradicate the disgraceful practice. The central government
must make sure that state governments have some accountability in
eradicating the practise. They should rope in good NGOs and
penetrate to the grass-root level," Bindeswar Pathak, founder,
Sulabh International told IANS.
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