Actor Aamir Khan on Monday called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Social Welfare Minister Mukul Wasnik, and highlighted the still-prevalent practice of manual scavenging in several parts of the country.
Speaking to reporters at the end of the half-hour meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence, he said Dr. Singh assured him that he would look into the issue on a priority basis.
The actor focussed on the subject in a recent episode of his television show, Satyamev Jayate, highlighting the plight of scavengers who are engaged in manually removing human excreta.
Mr. Khan said Mr. Wasnik, whom he met separately, had assured him that his Ministry was apprised of the problem, and was working on ways to put an end to the practice at the earliest.
No plan for politics
To a query, Mr. Khan, who has been taking up several societal issues in his TV show, ruled out any plan to join politics.
