Manual Scavenging UPSC NOTE

  Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act) MS Act, 2013 is a landmark legislation that aims to eradicate the practice o...

 Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act)

• MS Act, 2013 is a landmark legislation that aims to eradicate the practice of manual scavenging in India. 

• The Act defines manual scavenging as the manual cleaning, carrying, disposing of, or otherwise handling of human excreta from dry latrines, sewers, or septic tanks.

• The Act prohibits the employment of any person for manual scavenging ,it a punishable offense. 

• Act provides for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers and their families.

Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act)

The key provisions of the MS Act, 2013 include:

• The Act prohibits any person or agency from engaging or employing any person for manual scavenging.

• The Act prohibits the construction or maintenance of insanitary latrines.

• The Act provides for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers and their families.

• The Act provides for penalties for contravention of its provisions.

• The MS Act, 2013 is a significant step in eliminating the inhuman practice of manual scavenging. 

Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act)

Implementation of the Act has been challenging. There are still an estimated 800,000 manual scavengers in India.

Government  measures include:

1. Conducting surveys to identify manual scavengers.

2. Providing alternative livelihoods to manual scavengers.

3. Constructing sanitary latrines.

4. Providing educational opportunities to manual scavengers and their children.