NHRC recommends for a special act to zero down manual scavenging : Daily Current Affairs

NHRC recommends for a special act to zero down manual scavenging

NEWS

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) gives various recommendations to concerned authorities for special act for manual scavengers.

ABOUT

  • NHRC wants to expand the definition of manual scavenging and new law for hazardous cleaning.
  • Rehabilitation program for manual scavengers should be collaborated with MGNREGA.
  • For rehabilitation one- time cash assistance should be hiked from Rs 40,000 to Rs 1 lakh and it should be paid directly to them.
  • NHRC directs Finance Ministry to lend loan up to 10 lakhs to manual scavengers from designated nationalized bank in each state to help them to start some business activity.
  • National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) is directed to keep record of deaths caused by sewer or septic cleaning in their annual report.
  • NHRC wants provision of penalty for harassment of dependents or children of manual scavengers and for women manual scavengers.
  • Penalize the authorities concerned for wrong reporting of number of manual scavengers.
  • If in case any person has to enter sewer or septic tank, they should be provided with proper safety gears.

MANUAL SCAVENGING

  • It refers to unsafe and manual cleaning or removal of untreated human excreta.
  • According to Socio-Economic Census of 2011 over 1.82 lakh household are engaged in manual scavenging for a livelihood.
  • ‘Safai Karamchari Andolan ‘rights group says across India there are over 7 lakhs manual scavengers.
  • India’s 1st local body to ban manual scavenging is from Tamil Nadu.

NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (NHRC)

  • Established on 12th October 1993 under Protection of Human Rights Act 1993.
  • It is a statutory body.
  • NHRC head quartered at New Delhi.
  • It shows India’s commitment towards protection and promotion of Human Rights.