NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday directed District Magistrates across the national capital to survey and identify the manual scavengers in their respective districts, as the previous survey was not up to the mark. Dubbing it as ' last chance', the CM made it clear that if the survey report indicates that there is no manual scavenger in the area, and yet any death during manual cleaning of septic tank or sewer occurs under his jurisdiction, then the DM will be held responsible.
The direction from the CM came as he chaired a meeting of the State Level Monitoring Committee for Prohibitions of Manual Scavengers Act 2013. "Delhi Government is fully committed to rehabilitate manual scavengers and eradicate this inhuman practice to provide dignified life to manual scavengers," said Social Welfare Minister Rajender Pal Gautam.
After the formation of this committee nine months back, this is the first meeting convened under the Chairmanship of CM Arvind Kejriwal at Delhi Secretariat. Members of the State Monitoring Committee including Minister SC/ST attended the meeting.
The committee observed that it is evident that death of manual scavengers have not been stopped despite the ban on the hazardous practice of incidents of manual cleaning of sewers or septic tanks. It also observed that since the formation of Prohibition of Manual Scavengers Act 2013, it has not been implemented 'effectively'.
"As per the directions of the CM, 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. A last chance to carry out the survey with the authentic data will be given to the DMs. If the survey report indicates that there is no manual scavenger in the area, in case of any death during manual cleaning of septic tank or sewer occurs under his jurisdiction, then the DM will be held responsible," said a government spokesperson.
In the meeting, it has been decided that Secretary SC/ST will draft a scheme for rehabilitation of family members of the deceased and manual scavengers, within a week. I
n case of six recent deaths of manual scavengers, ADMs have been directed to exercise their powers to give justice/relief to the families as well as impose penalties to the defaulters immediately under the provision of the Act. Forty-five manual Scavengers identified in three districts will be given jobs in civil defence, as per the directions by the Chief Minister Kejriwal.