Port Blair, Aug 5: In a dedicated effort to eradicate the inhumane practice of Manual Scavenging and to ensure proper sanitation facilities, the Port Blair Municipal Council is set to conduct a fresh comprehensive survey of Manual Scavengers and Insanitary Latrines from Aug.6 to 10, 2024. This initiative is in strict compliance with the provisions of the Prevention of the Employment of Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation (PEMSR) Act-2013, MS Rules-2013, guidelines issued by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJ&E) and the directives of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation (PEMSR) Act, 2013 prohibits manual scavenging, hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks and identification of insanitary latrines and demolish the same/convert it into Sanitary Latrines. This Act also aims the Survey of Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation. According to the Act, if anyone employs a Manual Scavenger or construct an insanitary latrine, shall be penalized with imprisonment of up to one year or a fine up to Rs. 50,000/- or both.
As per Section 2(1)(g) of the PEMSR Act-2013; ‘Manual Scavenger’ means a person engaged or employed, at the commencement of this Act or at any time thereafter, by an individual or a local authority or an agency or a contractor, for manually cleaning, carrying, disposing of, or otherwise handling in any manner, human excreta in an unsanitary latrine or in an open drain or pit into which human excreta from the insanitary latrine is disposed of, or on a railway track or in such other spaces or premises, as the Central Government or a State Government may notify, before the excreta fully decomposing in such manner as may be prescribed and the expression ‘Manual Scavenging’ shall be constructed accordingly. It is relevant that the person engaged or employed (regular/contract) to clean excreta with the help of such devices and using such protective gear, as the Central Government may notify in this behalf, shall not be deemed to be a ‘Manual Scavenger’.
As per Section 2(1)(g) of the PEMSR Act-2013; ‘Insanitary latrine’ means a latrine which requires human excreta to be cleaned or otherwise handled manually, either in sue, or in an open drain or pit into which the excreta is discharged or flushed out, before the excreta fully decomposes in such manner as may be prescribed.
This survey will be carried out in all 24 Wards of the PBMC jurisdiction w.e.f Aug. 6 to10, 2024. The Surveyors and Validators are being appointed to carry out the survey on the subsequent directions of the District Magistrate, South Andaman (Chairman, District Level Survey Committee, South Andaman District). The primary objective of this survey is to identify and enumerate individuals who are currently engaged in the practice of Manual Scavenging. Additionally, the survey also aims to identify all insanitary latrines that are still in existence within the Municipal area, if any. Following the identification of the Manual Scavengers, the A&N Administration will implement a comprehensive rehabilitation plan under the guidance of Central Government. This includes providing alternative employment opportunities, financial assistance, access to skill development programs and other benefits under the relevant rules and directions of the Hon’ble Supreme court.
Further, as per the guidelines received from the MoSJ&E; the Municipal Council has invited all stakeholders, including individuals, Safaikarmachari Associations/Unions, NGOs, Community leaders, Social Workers and citizens to actively participate in this initiative. PBMC also encourages the stakeholders to report any kind of Manual Scavengers or insanitary latrines practice in the Port Blair City. Such information is vital for ensuring a thorough and accurate survey. PBMC also urges all residents and stakeholders to support the survey.
Further, PBMC has also invited Manual Scavengers, if any to declare themselves during the survey or at self-declaration center and have their details verified. Any person working as a manual scavenger may self-declare either during the survey to be undertaken by the local authority, or any time thereafter (before notification of final list), apply to the Sanitary Officer, PBMC for being identified as a manual scavenger in the prescribed proforma. There shall be no minimum age limit for identification of manual scavenger, and there shall be no restriction regarding the caste or religion or income or gender for being identified as manual scavenger. For the purposes, a person should have been engaged or employed as manual scavenger at the commencement of the Act or thereafter and should have worked such continuously for not less than three months.
The PBMC is unwavering in its commitment to safeguarding the dignity and rights of every individual. The elimination of Manual Scavenging and Insanitary Latrine is a moral imperative and legal obligation. This survey is a crucial step towards eliminating the degrading practice of manual scavengers and ensuring a cleaner and safer environment for the community. For further details, self-declaration, reporting of manual scavenging & insanitary latrine one may contact ULB Nodal Officer, ULB Survey Committee, Shri V.P. Tiwari (Sanitary Officer, PBMC) over phone No. 9932083100.