 | PRESS RELEASE
NHRC calls for Karnataka Government's report on allegations of continuance of manual scavenging in the State
New Delhi, August 18th, 2011
The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report alleging that inhuman practice of manual scavenging is still continuing in certain parts of Karnataka.
The Commission under case no. 355/10/0/2011 observed that if the contents therein are true then raise a serious issue of violations of human rights of the people engaged in manual scavenging.
Accordingly, a notice has been issued to the Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka calling for a report in the matter within four weeks. He has also been asked to specify, in particular, the districts in which, the practice of manual scavenging is still prevalent and the steps taken by the State Government for its eradication, after the adoption of "The employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act 1993", by the State Government of Karnataka in 1997.
According to the media report, manual scavenging was banned in Karnataka in the year 1970 but despite this about 8,000 manual scavengers earn their living by clearing human waste in Karnataka. The news report has specifically quoted the prevalence of practice of manual scavenging in the Kennedy lances in Kolar field. Allegedly, the manual scavengers are considered untouchables and have little change of getting other jobs.
NHRC right since its inception has been concerned about the practice of manual scavenging and consistently taken up with all the stake holders for its complete elimination and rehabilitation of manual scavengers. It has also observed that merely having a law in place banning manual scavenging would not do much, unless it is effectively implemented throughout the country in letter and spirit. At a recent national seminar organized by the Commission on manual scavenging it was noticed, as earlier also, that the progress on this front unfortunately has been slow in many states and Mr. Justice KG Balakrishnan, Chairperson NHRC said that the work on paper is not translating into action on ground.
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Information & Public Relations Officer,
National Human Rights Commission,
New Delhi, India. |
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