The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) recently launched a week-long awareness campaign for the SafaiMitra Suraksha Challenge (SSC) as part of World Toilet Day celebrations, leading up to Swachh Amrit Diwas. This award ceremony acknowledges the role and efforts put forth by states, cities, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), and the Cantonment Board in Swachh Survekshan 2021, plus the Garbage Free Star Rating certification on 20th November 2021.
World Toilet Day’s Significance
In 2013, the United Nations General Assembly officially designated 19th November as World Toilet Day. Coordinated by UN-Water in collaboration with governments and partners, the event aims to combat the stigma around sanitation. The silence around toilets and sanitation has deadly consequences, and the theme for 2021 focuses on valuing toilets.
About the SafaiMitra Suraksha Challenge
The SSC is seeing participation from 246 cities across India, including state capitals, urban local bodies, and smart cities. Cities will be awarded in three population-based sub-categories, featuring total prize money of Rs. 52 crore. This initiative forms part of the government’s efforts to eradicate manual scavenging.
Launched on World Toilet Day in 2020, the main objective of SSC is to encourage cities to mechanise their sewer and septic tank cleaning operations. This measure aims to prevent the deaths and injuries of sanitation workers from hazardous entry into sewers.
Initiatives Undertaken Under the SSC
Under the SSC, the National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC), supported by MoHUA, is arranging Loan Melas across the country. The intention is to assist Safaimitras in availing loans under the Swachhata Udyami Yojana for purchasing sewer/septic tank cleaning equipment for mechanized cleaning.
Additionally, skill development training has been provided to Safaimitras in 115 cities, facilitated by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment via NSKFDC. Furthermore, a Call Centre and Helpline have been launched in 345 cities to register complaints of hazardous cleaning and provide guidance on the safe cleaning of septic tanks/sewers.
Manual Scavenging in India
Manual scavenging is defined as the removal of human excrement from public streets and latrines, cleaning of gutters, sewers, and septic tanks. In India, it has traditionally been a caste-based activity with lower caste communities expected to perform this job.
Although the official number of manual scavengers decreased to 42,303 in 2018 from 770,338 in 2008, the practice remains a significant issue.
Steps Towards Eradicating Manual Scavenging
India has introduced numerous initiatives to eradicate manual scavenging. These include the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which bans the construction or maintenance of insanitary latrines and the employment of individuals for manual scavenging or hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks.
Similarly, the Prevention of Atrocities Act constitutes specific legislation to protect Scheduled Castes and Tribes from such practices.
National Commission of Safai Karamcharis
This Commission operates as a non-statutory body of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, with its tenure periodically extended through Government Resolutions.
Swachh Bharat Mission
Launched by the Government on 2nd October 2014, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is a national campaign to clean streets, roads, and improve the social infrastructure of the country. Its aim is to maintain and enhance cleanliness standards across India.
(Source: PIB)
