Current Affairs

UPSC Manual scavenging free districts. - English

Context

5. 508 districts in country are free of manual scavenging: Ministry report

Details

5. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment declared that 508 of the 766 districts in India are free of manual scavenging.
5. The data was published in a booklet released on the completion of nine years of the existing government.
5. In the last two years, the government denied manual scavenging-related deaths in Parliament. This can be attributed to the distinction of manual scavenging from “hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks”.
5. Nearly, 58000 manual scavengers have been identified in India.
5. As per the scheme for rehabilitation of manual scavengers, identified sewer workers have been given a one-time cash payment of ₹40,000 each. Additionally, 22000 have been associated with the skills training programme.
5. There are also provisions for subsidies and loans, in case they wish to establish their own business.
5. The scheme for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers has now been merged with the NAMASTE scheme.
5. NAMASTE scheme was launched for 100% mechanization of sewer work.
5. ₹ 100 crores was allocated to the NAMASTE scheme under Union Budget 2023-24. But, no allocation was made for the rehabilitation scheme.
5. The scheme for mechanization is still in progress and the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry is doing the bulk of the work in the current phase.
5. The scheme would require 4,800 urban local bodies (ULB) to identify and profile all septic tank/sewer workers in their respective areas.
5. ULBs should further provide occupational training and safety equipment to the workers and register them for health insurance under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
5. Additionally, it would facilitate capital subsidies for workers willing to mechanize their work and become empanelled with the associated local body.
5. The guidelines of the scheme are yet to be finalized.

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