The Meghalaya government has issued a stern reminder that the practice of manual scavenging remains illegal and punishable by law. In a news statement dated August 29, 2024, the Sohra Civil Sub Division’s Sub Divisional Officer stressed the need to uphold the “Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavenger and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.”
The announcement makes it clear that “no person, local authority or any agency shall construct an insanitary latrine, or engage or employ, either directly or indirectly, a manual scavenger.” It also makes it clear that anyone who has previously been engaged in this kind of job “shall stand discharged immediately from any obligation, express or implied, to do manual scavenging.” This reaffirmation seeks to end the cruel practice of manually cleaning septic tanks and sewers in response to a 2019 Supreme Court judgment. It is explicitly stated by the government that “hazardous cleaning of a sewer or a septic tank” by any individual is prohibited.
To guarantee adherence, the authorities have delineated stringent sanctions for noncompliance. “Contravention of the Act is punishable with imprisonment up to two years or with a fine up to two lakh rupees or with both for the first contravention,” the press release said. Even worse punishments are in store for repeat offenders: “prison up to five years or with a fine up to five lakh rupees or with both.” Additionally, the government is urging people to actively participate in enforcement. In the statement, it is requested that the public “report cases of employment of person/s as manual scavengers to the nearest Police Station for registration of the case.”
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