Source: The post is based on the article “Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers” published in PIB on 25th July 2023
What is the News?
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has informed Lok Sabha about the measures taken to rehabilitate Manual Scavengers.
What are the measures taken by the government of India to rehabilitate Manual Scavengers?
Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavenger and their Rehabilitation Act 2013: It bans manual scavenging and hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks.
Swachhta Udyami Yojana: It was launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in 2014.
– Under the scheme, National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC) provides concessional loans to safai karamcharis, manual scavengers & their dependents and the Urban Local Bodies & other agencies responsible for cleaning for procurement of sanitation related instruments/vehicles for complete mechanization of all cleaning operations.
Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS): It is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE). The scheme was introduced in y 2007 and was subsequently revised in November 2013 and in 2020-2021.
– The objective of SRMS is to provide assistance to the identified manual scavengers and their dependents for their rehabilitation in alternative occupations.
The following rehabilitation benefits have been provided under the SRMS Scheme:
– One-time Cash Assistance of Rs. 40,000/- per family has been provided to all identified and eligible 58098 manual scavengers.
– Capital Subsidy upto Rs. 5,00,000/- has been provided to 2313 identified manual scavengers and their dependents to take up alternate self employment projects.
– Skill Development Training has been provided to 22294 identified manual scavengers and their dependents with stipend @ Rs. 3,000/- per month during the training period.
– Health Insurance under Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to the families of all the identified manual scavengers
Workshops are organized in municipalities with the officers, engineers, contractors, sanitation workers etc. of urban local bodies to sensitize them about safe and healthy cleaning practices and mechanized cleaning of sewers & septic tanks.
National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem(NAMASTE)
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