Dry latrines exist in four states: Minister
March 8th, 2010 - 7:16 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, March 8 (IANS) Even as the cabinet put March-end as deadline for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers in India, a minister said Monday that four states continue to have dry latrines.
“Dry latrines exist in four states, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand,” Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Mukul
Wasnik informed the Lok Sabha.
The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibtion) Act, 1993 prohibits manual scavenging. According to law, no person should be engaged in manual scavenging or construct or maintain dry latrines.
“So far the act has been adopted by 23 states and all union territories. Manipur and Mizoram have reported they have no dry latrines or are scavenger-free. Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan have their own acts, and Jammu and Kashmir is yet to adopt the act,” Wasnik said.
“Sanitation is a state subject. Enforcement of the act lies with the state governments,” he added.
The cabinet reviewed implementation of the Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) last month - originally intended to cover all beneficiaries by March 31, 2009 - and approved a revised time-frame for coverage of “remaining beneficiaries” by March 31, 2010.
Wasnik further said that the ministry of housing and urban poverty alleviation was implementing the Integrated Low Cost Sanitation Scheme which aims at converting dry latrines into pour flush latrines.
According to reports from states, 1.17 lakh manual scavengers are eligible for rehabilitation under the SRMS.
- Government plans new bill to ban manual scavenging - Apr 19, 2012
- Over a million Indians engaged in manual scavenging (To go with Abolish manual scavenging by 2012-end, urges NAC) - Oct 23, 2010
- Manual scavenging a dark blot, must end: PM (Lead) - Jun 17, 2011
- Cabinet approves extension for anti-scavenging scheme - Feb 18, 2010
- 57 million more toilets needed to end manual scavenging - Mar 11, 2010
- We didn't chose this life, say scavengers - Oct 31, 2010
- New schemes in the offing for livelihood security (Factfile) - Mar 12, 2012
- Focus on scavengers' rehabilitation, government urged - Oct 24, 2010
- Inhuman bondage: 1.3 million manual scavengers exist in India despite ban - Jul 27, 2009
- Achieve the target of rehabilitation of remaining manual scavengers by March 2009: Meira Kumar - Jun 13, 2008
- Complete the conversion of dry latrines into water seal latrines in rural areas by March 2009: Meira - Jun 13, 2008
- 'Rigorous efforts to abolish manual scavenging by March 2010' - Jan 18, 2010
- Court notice to Delhi government on anti-scavenging law - May 08, 2009
- Home Ministry issues advisory on crime against SC/ST - May 02, 2011
- Won't give directions which may be questioned: Apex court - Nov 08, 2010
Tags: beneficiaries, four states, himachal pradesh, jammu and kashmir, kashmir, Lok Sabha, manipur, manual scavengers, ministry of housing, mizoram, mukul, poverty alleviation, rajasthan, sanitation, state governments, state subject, union territories, urban poverty, uttar pradesh, uttarakhand