Besides recommending prohibition of persons from engagement or employment in hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks, the bill provides for several stringent measures to stop the practice of manual scavenging.
The bill also seeks to empower an executive magistrate to issue a summary trial of the offenders of the proposed Act.
Introducing the bill, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Mukul Wasnik said, "Despite the concerted efforts made in the past to eliminate dehumanising practice of manual scavenging, it still persists."
Observing that the existing laws are not stringent enough to eliminate the evil practice, Wasnik said, "A multi-pronged strategy has been worked out in the bill."
The bill also empowers the local authority to carry out survey of insanitary latrines existing and give notice to the occupier to either demolish it or convert it into sanitary latrines within six months.
Failure to comply with orders will invite imprisonment which may extend to one year or with a fine which may extend to Rs 50,000 or with both.
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For rehabilitation of manual scavengers, the bill provides for their entitlement for residential plot, assistance to their children's education, training in a livelihood skill and monthly stipend of not less than Rs 3,000 during such training.
The responsibility for rehabilitation of the manual scavengers will be on district magistrates.