Rehabilitation of manual scavenging

As per the reports of the State Governments, no person is engaged as manual scavenger any i.e. carrying of human excreta from insanitary latrines, any more. There are certain claims from some voluntary agencies that still there are some people working as manual scavengers. However they could not substantiate these claims.

Although no deaths have been reported from manual scavenging, 309 deaths have been reported during the last five years of people who undertook hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks.

Details of number of manual scavengers provided assistance for their rehabilitation by Government during the last five years, year-wise and State-wise under the Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers, is given at Annexure-I. In Madurai, 02 manual scavengers have been identified and they have been provided One time Cash Assistance of Rs. 40,000/-

Details of funds allocated by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and utilized by NSKFDC during the last five years are given as under:-

The following major steps have been taken to ensure proper rehabilitation of manual scavengers:-

1. The target beneficiaries have been made aware, about the measures/programmes available for their rehabilitation, by organising awareness camps in their basties/areas.
2. Skill development training programmes are being conducted in the trades which are as per the qualification and aptitude of the beneficiaries.
3. Skill development training programmes are being conducted near their basties so that they can easily attend the classes.
4. Manual scavengers and their dependants are provided stipend @ Rs. 3,000/- per month during the training period.
5. Concessional loan and capital subsidy upto Rs. 5.00 lakh is provided to the manual scavengers and their dependants for self employment projects costing upto Rs. 15.00 lakh.
6. All identified and eligible manual scavengers have been provided One Time Cash Assistance @ Rs. 40,000/-.