Tripura govt contests manual scavenger figure

Tripura government today denied that it had the highest percentage of manual scavenger with 2.50 per cent of the state's rural population still engaged in this menial work.
"This is a glib version that our state has the highest percentage of manual scavenger with 2.50 per cent of its rural population still engaged in this menial work. We have noticed media report quoting the Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011, which was published on Friday last," Minister for Public Health Engineering and Drinking water Ratan Bhowmick said.
He said the system of carrying of excreta by manual scavengers had been abolished after the first Left Front government was established in 1978.

Bhowmick, who is also the minister for schedule caste welfare, said that in rural areas people used makeshift latrines, but fill up the pit with earth after using those for sometime.
He said, a few years ago the central government had sought information if the state had 'Dhangar' or manual scavengers and it was replied that there was no existence of them in the state.
The Mayor of Agartala Municipal Council Prafullajit Sinha said the system had been abolished long ago, but the municipal body had appointed 'Dhangars' till 2000. After 2000, there was no 'Dhangar' in the municipal body, because the system of toilets were completely changed.