News: Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment has launched a Mobile Application “SwachhataAbhiyan”.
About SwachhataAbhiyan: It is a mobile application developed to identify and geotag the data of insanitary latrines and manual scavengers. So that the insanitary latrines can be replaced with sanitary latrines and rehabilitate all the manual scavengers to provide dignity of life to them.
Significance: This would help in rehabilitating all manual scavengers and replace insanitary latrines with sanitary ones.
Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS):
About Manual scavenging: It is the practice of manually cleaning, carrying, disposing of or handling human excreta.
About the Scheme:
- It aims to rehabilitate manual scavengers and their dependents in alternative occupations, in a time-bound manner.
- Under this, manual scavengers are provided rehabilitation benefits
- The benefits include One Time cash assistance of Rs.40000/-.
- Loans up to Rs. 15.00 lacs at concessional rate of interest.
- Credit linked back-end capital subsidy up to Rs. 3,25,000/-.
- Skill Development Training up to two years with a stipend of Rs.3000/- per month.
