A meeting was convened on 8th August by the District Collector N.Hariharan emphasising on the necessity to annihilate manual scavenging in the city.
He cited on the 'Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 which strictly prohibits of coercing people to engage in manual scavenging. In 2013, the parliament enacted 'The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers & Rehabilitation Act (the 2013 Act) against all manual excrement cleaning.
The 2013 Act also insisted on providing alternate livelihood and all required assistance to uplift the lives of the people engaged in these kind of socially injustice jobs.
He strongly insisted that public should refrain from luring people of deprived communities with money and engage them in manual scavenging, which is strictly against the constitution.
He stated that it is very important to stay healthy and hygienic and hence he requested the people to make use of the Chief Minister's welfare schemes and the comprehensive health insurance scheme to avail uncompromising treatments at hospitals, in case of any ailments.
During rainy seasons, the sanitary workers should use follow the required safety precautions issued by the Government to avoid unforeseen accidents.
He evoked on the punishments proposed by the Government for engaging in manual scavenging works, Rs. 50,000 fine and a year of imprisonment will be levied on people for the first time, and Rs.1,00,000 plus two years of fine for the second time.
Corporation Commissioner Vijaya Karthikeyan, IAS, District Sanitation Officer, Mr. Santosh, City Engineer Mr.Rajendran and members from social welfare associations, sewage tank association, sanitary workers union were present at the meeting.