*Strict action should be taken against those who force manual scavengers to work under duress - Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai*

*Sewerage cleaning should be done only through the Municipal Corporation or registered organizations*

State Monitoring Committee meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister

Raipur/ Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai has said that strict action should be taken against those who force manual scavengers to work in the state. He directed the issuance of clear guidelines regarding sewerage cleaning. Under this, sewerage cleaning should be carried out only through the Municipal Corporation or registered organizations. Furthermore, full safety standards should be observed during cleaning to prevent any untoward incidents.

Expressing deep condolences on the death of three labourers while cleaning a septic tank in a big private hospital in the state yesterday, Chief Minister Shri Sai said that all possible help should be provided to the affected people and strict action should be taken against those responsible for the incident as per rules, so that such unpleasant incidents do not happen in future.

Chief Minister Shri Sai gave these instructions today while presiding over the meeting of the State Monitoring Committee held in the assembly hall of Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly regarding the effective implementation of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 under the Scheduled Caste Development Department.

On this occasion, Mr. Sonmani Bora, Principal Secretary of the Tribal and Scheduled Caste Development Department, stated that the Act also provides for penalties for those who force manual scavenging, including imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of up to fifty thousand rupees. He added that appropriate publicity is also being conducted to raise awareness in urban areas.

It is noteworthy that this is the first meeting since the reconstitution of the State-Level Monitoring Committee. Principal Secretary Shri Sonmani Bora stated that in compliance with the Supreme Court's directives, a manual scavengers reserve survey has been conducted in all districts of the state, as per the guidelines, and all district collectors have issued certificates declaring the state free of manual scavengers, a moment of great honor and pride for the state. He stated that the practice of manual scavenging is contrary to human values ​​and the high ideals established by the Constitution. Every person in society has the right to live with dignity. He also commended the coordinated efforts of the Panchayat and Rural Development Department, the Urban Administration and Development Department, and other allied departments/institutions for their commendable efforts towards eradicating the practice of manual scavengers.

The meeting presented the minutes of the previous meeting held in 2018. Furthermore, the State Level Survey Committee discussed and approved the resurvey report of manual scavengers received from the Urban Administration and Development Department in compliance with the order of the Honorable Supreme Court dated October 20, 2023.

Cabinet Minister Guru Khushwant Saheb, MLAs Shri Punnulal Mohle, Shri Doman Lal Korsevada, Chief Secretary Shri Vikassheel, Director General of Police Shri Arun Dev Gautam, Additional Chief Secretary Shri Manoj Pingua, Principal Secretary Shri Sonmani Bora, Secretary of Panchayat and Rural Development Department Shri Bhim Singh, Secretary of Urban Administration and Development Department Shri S. Basavaraju and other officials were present in the meeting.