Historic! After thousands of years, manual #scavenging to end in #India; govt to introduce automated cleaning
It has been extremely painful to see our #countrymen working & living in such disgusting, inhuman, dangerous, stigmatizing environment physically, mentally with no financial and physical protection. It is welcome step by the #government to make the law banning manual scavenging.
The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation (Amendment) Bill, 2020, also proposes to completely mechanise sewer cleaning and provide better protection at work and compensation in case of accidents.
Currently, engaging any person for hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks by any person or agency is punishable with imprisonment of up to five years or a fine up of to ₹5 lakh or both.
The #Ministry of #Socialjustice & Empowerment will bring amendments to Prohibition of Employment of Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation (PEMSR) Act to end to the hazardous practice.
Furthermore, the Ministry of #Urban Affair, under its ‘Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge’ initiative, will ensure enters a septic tank or sewer line for cleaning it manually. The ministry will grant funds to civic workers for buying cleaning machines.
