Focus on scavengers’ rehabilitation, government urged
October 24th, 2010 - 5:43 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Oct 24 (IANS) Hailing the National Advisory Commission’s (NAC) recommendation to “fully abolish” manual scavenging in the country by 2012, social activist Bindeshwar Pathak Sunday said the government should also focus on rehabilitating the scavengers.
“It’s an encouraging news and a great step towards the betterment of human scavenger’s future. We’ll have to bring them into society’s mainstream for their development,” Pathak said.
Founder of the Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, Pathak cited the examples of Rajasthan’s Alwar and Tonk towns, which were declared ‘manual scavenging free’ last year because of his efforts.
“We provided vocational training to the scavengers like food processing, tailoring, embroidery and beauty treatments. If we successfully manage to abolish manual scavenging completely in the country, Gandhiji’s dream would be realised,” Pathak added.
The NAC, headed by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Saturday asked the government to abolish human scavenging in the country by 2012.
Parliament passed the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act in 1993, declaring the employment of scavengers or the construction of dry (non-flush) latrines to be an offence punishable with imprisonment and a fine. But no one has been punished so far.
There are 1.3 million people employed in the practice in India.
- Over a million Indians engaged in manual scavenging (To go with Abolish manual scavenging by 2012-end, urges NAC) - Oct 23, 2010
- Rajasthan town free from manual cleaning of toilets (Nov 19 is World Toilet Day) - Nov 19, 2009
- We didn't chose this life, say scavengers - Oct 31, 2010
- Government plans new bill to ban manual scavenging - Apr 19, 2012
- Sulabh founder to address Cambridge University students - Jan 20, 2011
- Rajasthan's Dalit women celebrate 'liberty' at temple - Jun 20, 2011
- 'Liberated' women manual scavengers meet US ambassador - Mar 01, 2010
- 24-year-old manual scavenger wins beauty pageant - Nov 19, 2011
- Over 200 women fly to Varanasi to fight untouchability - Jun 19, 2011
- Once barred from her gods, she now 'lights' their lamps - Jun 21, 2011
- Manual scavenging a dark blot, must end: PM (Lead) - Jun 17, 2011
- A 'fine dining' experience for former scavengers - Jan 05, 2009
- India's scavenger women find new jobs - and dignity (For International Women's Day) - Mar 06, 2009
- Sulabh to launch sanitation project in Uganda - Jan 16, 2012
- India's Sulabh gets top UN consultative status - Nov 03, 2011
Tags: alwar, beauty treatments, betterment, congress chief, embroidery, encouraging news, food processing, imprisonment, mainstream, manual scavengers, nac, national advisory commission, New Delhi, pathak, prohibition act, service organisation, social activist, sonia gandhi, tonk, vocational training