Implementation of act for rehabilitating manual scavengers sought

New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS)  The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis on Tuesday urged the Delhi government to ensure the implementation of the 2013 act prohibiting employment of manual scavengers and providing for their rehabilitation.

During his meeting with Lt Governor Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the commission's chairman Manhar Valji also sought the immediate ban on the hazardous cleaning of sewers, septic tanks manually and for complete mechanization of this type of cleaning.

Expressed his reservations about nil reporting of insanitary latrines and manual scavengers by the city government, he demanded that a re-survey in this regard should be conducted through an independent third party. 

The commission was also apprised about initiatives by the government such as introduction of a new safety protocol for cleaning of sewers/septic tanks with emphasis on minimum human intervention for the job. 

Kejriwal also informed the Commission that his government is very much alive and sensitive to the problem and that he himself visited the family members of all the victims and handed over the cheques of Rs 10 lakh compensation.