Northeast Desk, 6th September: In a significant move towards ending the practice of manual scavenging, the Meghalaya state government has issued a new notification from the Chief Executive Officer of the Shillong Municipal Board. This action comes in compliance with the Supreme Court of India’s directives and ‘The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013’. The notification mandates that no individual, local authority, or agency is permitted to construct insanitary latrines or engage manual scavengers, either directly or indirectly.
Under the new rules, any person previously employed in manual scavenging must be immediately discharged from their duties. The regulation also prohibits any hazardous cleaning of sewers or septic tanks. These measures are designed to eliminate unsafe and degrading work conditions associated with manual scavenging.
Violations of the new regulations will face strict penalties. The first offense will be punishable by up to two years of imprisonment or a fine of up to two lakh rupees, or both. For repeat offenders, the penalties increase to up to five years of imprisonment or a fine of up to five lakh rupees, or both.
To support the enforcement of these new regulations, citizens are encouraged to report any instances of manual scavenging to the nearest police station. The government’s initiative aims to uphold the dignity and safety of sanitation workers while ensuring strict adherence to national laws.
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