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Source: The post is based on the article “Government to enumerate people who clean sewers” published in The Hindu on 13th August 2022.
What is the News?
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment(MoSJ&E) is now preparing to undertake a nationwide survey to enumerate all people engaged in hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks.
About the survey
Reason: Cleaning of sewers and septic tanks has led to at least 351 deaths since 2017.
Conducted by: The nationwide survey to enumerate all people engaged in the hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks will be conducted across 500 AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) cities.
– The survey will be conducted as a part of the National Action Plan for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE).
Is Sanitation work different from Manual Scavenging?
There is a proper distinction between sanitation work and manual scavenging. The practice of manual scavenging no longer takes place in the country as all manual scavengers had been accounted for and enrolled on the rehabilitation scheme.
What is the National Action Plan for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem(NAMASTE)?
Nodal Ministries: It is a joint project of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs(MoHUA).
Aim: To eradicate unsafe sewer and septic tank cleaning practices.
Replaced by: The scheme will replace the Self-Employment Scheme for the Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS), which was started in 2007.
Features of the Scheme: Under the scheme, capital subsidies of up to ₹5 lakh on sanitation machinery costing up to ₹15 lakh will be provided so that workers will be able to own sanitation machines themselves.
– Interest subsidies on loans will also be provided where interest rates will be capped between 4-6% for the beneficiaries with the government taking care of the rest of the interest.
– In addition, the scheme also provides for training the workers in the use of these machines, during which time a stipend of up to ₹3,000 per month will be provided.
– The scheme will also provide for sanitation workers to train for and go into any of the approved lists of alternative occupations in sectors like agriculture, services, electronics assembling, handicrafts and so on.
