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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | NAC writes to Govt. on need for new law to end manual scavenging by Smita Gupta

NAC writes to Govt. on need for new law to end manual scavenging by Smita Gupta

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published Published on Jun 16, 2011   modified Modified on Jun 16, 2011

The Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC) has written to the Manmohan Singh government on the issue of manual scavenging: in a letter dated June 9, it has made out a case once again for a new law to end manual scavenging.

The letter points out that in a resolution on October 23, 2010, the NAC had expressed its anguish at the official failure to end manual scavenging in the country and that Ms. Gandhi had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh thereafter on November 9, 2010, requesting him to take steps to end this demeaning practice in a time-bound manner. The letter notes that after the issue was taken up at the highest levels in the government, Dr. Singh wrote to Ms. Gandhi on May 9, 2011. In his letter, he had reiterated the government's “determination to completely eradicate this abominable practice in a very short time” and had said that the employment of SC/ST persons to handle excreta would be made an offence under the SC/ST Atrocities Act.

Noting all this, the NAC's newest letter says there is still need for a new law as the Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993, has failed to eradicate this dehumanising practice even 18 years after its enactment.

The NAC has, therefore, recommended to the government that it enact a new law with the following features:

* the immediate demolition of dry latrines and liberation of those manually handling human excreta in dry latrines, together with a full rehabilitation package. For those engaged in sewers and railways, liberation can take a little longer but not more than five years from the date the law is enacted.

* livelihood rehabilitation to be implemented within three months of identification, with a guaranteed Below Poverty Line Card to all families in which one or more member is engaged in manual scavenging, a special housing scheme for liberated persons and education package for children from these families including free education with fellowships up to XII Standard.

*for sewer and railway workers, liberation should come from technological changes which will render the occupation humane, dignified and safe, and avoid any direct human contact with excreta.

* guarantee that no person who is employed at the time the Act comes into force in casual, contract or regular employment, will be terminated; instead s/he will be confirmed in regular employment.

The Hindu, 17 June, 2011, http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article2111729.ece


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