The Madras High Court would monitor the progress made by officials in implementing all the provisions of Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, even as it directed an activist to file a progress report every three months.
When a PIL plea filed by A. Narayanan of CHANGE India, the First Bench comprising Chief Justice S.K. Kaul and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam said the court would monitor the progress made by officials, keeping in mind the gravity of the issue.
The Bench observed that expeditious steps can be taken by officials to implement the provisions of the Act.
The PIL plea sought for a direction to officials to implement all the provisions of the Act, including publication of survey of insanitary latrines and identification of manual scavengers.
During the hearing of another petition on the issue, the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department submitted that in compliance with its recent order it has reconstituted a special committee to submit a report.
In yet another related case, the Corporation of Chennai submitted that the Commissioner has taken steps to mechanise the maintenance of stormwater drain.
Rehab packages
The Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department has submitted in the court that the government was in the process of formulation of rehabilitation packages for the identified manual scavengers.
In a counter affidavit filed , it stated that the identified scavengers and their dependents would be provided with subsidy and loan for undertaking self employment ventures. While the beneficiaries would be given training for skill development, the credit would be given by banks at a low interest rate.
“The Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing Development Corporation has been directed to furnish the rehabilitation package,” it stated.
The Bench observed that expeditious steps can be taken by officials to implement the provisions of the Act.
