Ms Chaudhry asks states to give priority to end scavenging

Phagwara, Jul 27 (UNI) National Safai Karamchari Commission, Chairperson Santosh Chaudhry today urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to halt central development funds to those states that have failed to implement the governments policies for ending scavenging.

Talking to mediapersons after addressing a meeting of sanitation committees and Safai Karamcharis Union here, Ms Chaudhry said the Commission had sought free education for the children of scavengers and had also brought all scavengers under the purview of minimum wages act.

She alleged that most of the states had supplied false data to the Central Government on steps taken to end scavenging. Funds given by the Union Government for putting an end to scavenging had been diverted to other sectors, she claimed.

She claimed that the Union Government had released Rs 750 lakh to various states for ending scavenging but the amount could not be used for this purpose.

She alleged that humans still carried night soil from households every day at various places in different states and these facts were being hidden. She also claimed that certain states did not accept the funds from the Central Government as they would have to later submit utilisation certificates.

She reiterated her commitment that the social evil of scavenging would be ended by the end of of next year in every nook and corner of the country.

She admitted that so far not a single punishment had been handed out to those who encourage scavenging. The punishment involves a penalty of Rs 2 lakh and six months RI.

She urged all states to implement the National Scheme for Rehabilitation and Liberation of Scavengers and set up community latrines.

Regarding non-availability of toilets in Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs), she urged Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav to provide dry toilets on the pattern of aircrafts in DMUs.

Ms Chaudhry however urged the Punjab Chief Minister to abolish sanitation committees and regularise all daily wagers and contractual safai karamcharis.

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