Rehabilitation of all manual scavengers by Mar 2009: Sheila

New Delhi, Jul 10 (UNI) Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today expressed her government's commitment to rehabilitate all manual scavengers and their dependents by March 2009 by providing them alternate viable self-employment/job after training.

Speaking to reporters after launching, along with Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Meira Kumar, a self-employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) and their dependents, Ms Dikshit said one-year free skill training in one of the trades would be provided to scavengers.

Under the training programme organised by Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Delhi SC/ST/OBC/Minorities amd Handicapped Finance and Develoment Corporation Limited, the scavengers would be paid Rs 1000 as stipend per month during the training period.

The government would also arrange for concessional loan for their self-employment project costing upto Rs five lakh with capital subsidy upto Rs 20,000/-.

Describing this new scheme as an effort of the government agencies to put an end to the menace of scavenging, the Chief Minister said her government would offer meaningful job-oriented courses to the scavengers to get them relieved of their traditional practice, which is not at all desirable in today's world.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Meira Kumar expressed hope that the city-government would sincerely implement this new scheme to bring about a social change. She said the training center, which has been inaugurated today, would provide an opportunity to trainees to develop their skill to set up self-employment project with assistance from the government.

Delhi Minister for Welfare of SC/ST/OBC, Minorities Raj Kumar Chauhan presided over the function whereas MLA Veer Singh Dhingan was also present on this occasion.

The Apparel Design&Training Centre (ATDC) will train 320 manual scavengers in the garment construction course and National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) will train 180 scavengers in beautician and electrician course.

This is the second batch of training, which has been organised at Dilshad Garden. The first batch was organised at Tronica City, Ghaziabad through ATDC wherein 39 scavengers were present.

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