A proposal to constitute a central monitoring committee to oversee the implementation of a bill, banning employment of people for manual scavenging and cleaning of septic tanks and sewers, today received nod of the Cabinet.
The Cabinet approved some amendments in the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Bill, 2012, which also included making adequate protective arrangements for workers cleaning septic tanks to save them from any bodily harm.
The monitoring committee, sources said, would see if there are any bottlenecks in the effective implementation of the bill and any other deficiency on the ground.
It would also oversee the overall execution of the bill to ensure that it meets its purpose and would recommend measures, if any, to this effect.
To avoid incidents of workers receiving injuries, at times fatal, while cleaning drainages and tanks manually, a proposal to provide them adequate protection was also approved.
The bill is likely to be taken up in Parliament in Monsoon Session.
It was introduced in Parliament on September 3, 2012 and referred to the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment.
The Cabinet had in its meeting on May 1 approved certain amendments to the bill, including making mandatory inclusion of women in vigilance committees at district, state and national levels and a survey to identify manual scavengers.
