Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013

The Act replaces Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act (1993).

Basic Features of the Act: Prohibition of construction or maintenance of insanitary toilets.

• Prohibition on the engagement or employment of anyone as a manual scavenger.
• Violations could result in a years’ imprisonment or a fine of INR 50,000 or both.
• It prohibits a person from being engaged or employed for hazardous cleaning of a sewer or a septic tank.
• Offences under the Act are cognizable and non-bailable.
• Calls for a survey of manual scavengers in urban and rural areas within a time bound framework.

Challenges with the Act: It does ....