Survey for identification of manual scavengers launched in Malerkotla

Our Correspondent

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Malerkotla, August 19

Ten months after the Supreme Court passed a judgment regarding the implementation of laws relating to manual scavenging, the administration has initiated a process to conduct a survey to identify manual scavengers in the region.

Information collected during the surveys to be conducted by designated enumerators was to be forwarded to Tehsil-level officers for rehabilitation of manual scavengers. Sources in the administration revealed that SDMs at Malerkotla, Amargarh and Ahmedgarh had convened meetings of designated personnel from municipal councils, block development offices and representatives of the public to initiate the process for local-level surveys to identify manual scavengers expeditiously and meticulously.

Ahmedgarh SDM Gurmit Kumar Bansal said, “Having received instructions from Deputy Commissioner Pallavi, we called a meeting of officials concerned and representatives of the public and advised the authorities to conduct surveys for the identification of manual scavengers, if any.” The SDM maintained that in-charges at civic bodies have been advised to ensure orders of the Apex Court, passed in the case of Balram Singh vs. Union of India on October 20, 2023, were implemented in letter and spirit.

Sanitary Inspector Hussan Lal, who has been appointed enumerator for conducting surveys in areas falling under Ahmedgarh Municipal Council, claimed that no manual scavenger had since been identified. He said, “Though we are yet to complete the survey and submit the report thereof, it seems that it will be a ‘nil’ report.”

The construction of dry toilets and the employment of manual scavengers to clean such toilets were prohibited in India in 1993. In 2013, the law was extended and clarified to include a ban on human labour for the direct cleaning of sewers, ditches, pits and septic tanks.

In a writ petition filed in the Apex Court, Balram Singh had sought directions to the Union of India and all the states and union territories to implement provisions, inter alia, of the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993, and the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.

Having received directions to implement the orders of the Apex Court, the administration launched the process to conduct the surveys according to parameters laid down by the Union of India.