Mira-Bhayandar: In a belated but much-needed step, the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) has finally rolled up its sleeves to take strict legal action against those who practise or encourage manual scavenging which is a banned activity under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act, 2013)" throughout the country.
The law states that any person or agency that engages people in manual scavenging is punishable under section 8 of the Act with imprisonment of up to two years or a fine up to Rs 1 lakh, or both.
Warning Issued
In a public notice issued by the municipal commissioner Sanjay Katkar has warned of strict legal action against housing societies, commercial and educational complexes that are found pressing humans to conduct undignified and dangerous labour work. The notice has appealed to citizens to approach the solid waste management department for availing paid services to clear clogged pipes, manholes and other sewer systems in a mechanised manner.
Apart from existing mechanical apparatus, the MBMC has recently added two suction-cum-jetting machines (recyclers) in its fleet to clean sewer lines and sewage tanks in the twin-city. In situations where it is not possible for the machines to reach the cleaning site, the housing societies or commercial complexes can hire private contractors who can engage trained labourers and provide them with portable cleaning devices and protective gear to ensure their safety.
It is also binding upon the societies to execute an agreement with the contractor, so that the labourers and their families are entitled to monetary compensation and rehabilitation in case of any untoward incident. There have been instances in which manual scavengers have lost their lives while cleaning manholes and sewers from asphyxiation upon inhaling excessive carbon monoxide.
While the government has also implemented the Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) to aid manual scavengers and their families, the Apex Court in its landmark 2014 judgement directed all states to abolish manual scavenging and take steps to rehabilitate such workers.
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