45 manual scavengers in Delhi to get jobs

A total of 45 manual scavengers identified in three districts in Delhi will get jobs in civil defence, Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam said on Monday.

The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

"The 45 manual scavengers identified in three districts of Delhi will be given jobs in civil defence," Gautam told media.

Kejriwal has also sought a report on the deaths of manual scavengers in the last five years.

It is evident that the deaths of manual scavengers have not stopped despite the ban on the hazardous practice of manual cleaning of sewers or septic tanks, he said.

The Prohibition of Manual Scavengers Act 2013 has not been implemented effectively, he said.

The minister said District Magistrates will complete a survey to identify the manual scavengers in their respective district as the earlier survey was not up to the mark and the numbers of manual scavengers were found to be dubious, he said.

It was also decided in the meeting that a new scheme for rehabilitation of family members of the deceased manual scavengers will be drafted within a week.

--IANS

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