The Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District in press release issued has informed that as per the order of the Supreme Court of India and in accordance with “The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavenger and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013”, the practice of manual scavenging has been abolished.
Therefore, no person or local authority or any agency shall construct an insanitary latrine; or engage or employ, either directly or indirectly, a Manual Scavenger, and every person so engaged or employed shall stand discharged immediately from any obligation, express or implied, to do Manual Scavenging.
Also, no Person, Local authority or any Agency shall engage or employ, either directly or indirectly, any person for hazardous cleaning of a sewer or a septic tank.
Contravention of the Act is punishable with imprisonment up to two years or with a fine up to Rs 2 lakh or with both for the first contravention. Any subsequent contravention is punishable with imprisonment up to five years or with fine up to five lakh rupees or with both.
All citizens are also requested to report cases of employment of persons as manual scavengers to the nearest Police Station for registration of the cases, added the Deputy Commissioner.