National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK)

Context:

Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the extension of the tenure of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) for three years beyond 31.3.2022

About National Commission for Safai Karamcharis:

• The commission was set up in 1993 under the NCSK Act, 1993 for a period of three years, which has been extended since then, despite the Act ceasing to have effect from February 29, 2004.
• After that the tenure of the NCSK is acting as a Non-Statutory body of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment whose tenure is extended from time to time through Government Resolutions.
• The Commission comprises one Chairman (in the rank and status of the Union Minister for States) and four members, including a lady member (in the rank and status of the Secretary to the Government of India) and the Secretary (in the rank of Joint Secretary to the Govt. of India) along with other supporting staff.

Objectives of National Commission for Safai Karamcharis:

• Recommend to the Central Government specific programmes of action towards elimination of inequalities in status, facilities and opportunities for Safai Karamcharis.
• Study and evaluate the implementation of the programmes and schemes relating to the social and economic rehabilitation of Safai Karamcharis; and scavengers, in particular.
• Investigate specific grievances and take suo-motu notice of matters relating to non-implementation of: –
  • programmes or schemes in respect of any group of Safai Karamcharis
  • decisions, guidelines or instructions, aimed at mitigating the hardships of Safai Karamcharis
  • measures for the social and economic upliftment of Safai Karamcharis
  • the provisions of any law in its application to Safai Karamcharis; and take up such matters with the concerned authorities or with the Central or State Governments
• To study and monitor the working conditions, including those relating to health, safety and wages of Safai Karamcharis working under various kinds of employers including Government, Municipalities and Panchayats, and to make recommendations in this regard.
• Make reports to the Central or State Governments on any matter concerning Safai Karamcharis, taking into account any difficulties or disabilities being encountered by Safai Karamcharis
• Any other matter which may be referred to it by the Central Government.

Significance:

• The safai karamcharis face various problems like
  • They are boycotted socially and are referred to in derogatory words.
  • The poisonous gases emanating from waste cause many harmful diseases like Asthma and heart diseases
  • Low wage payment and low financial security
  • Protected gears are not provided which means they use their bear hands which leads to many diseases
• NCSK recommends to the Government regarding specific programmes for welfare of Safai Karamcharis, study and evaluate the existing welfare programmes for Safai Karamcharis, investigate cases of specific grievances etc.
• Also as per the provisions of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, the NCSK has been assigned the work to monitor the implementation of the Act.
• NCSK also tenders advice for its effective implementation to the Centre and State Governments and enquire into complaints regarding contravention/non-implementation of the provisions of the Act.

What NCSK does?

• The NCSK has been giving its recommendations to the Government regarding specific programmes for welfare of Safai Karamcharis, study and evaluate the existing welfare programmes for Safai Karamcharis, investigate cases of specific grievances etc.
• As per the provisions of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, the NCSK has been assigned the work

• to monitor the implementation of the Act,
• tender advice for its effective implementation to the Centre and State Governments, and
• enquire into complaints regarding contravention/non-implementation of the provisions of the Act

NCSK composition

• The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis comprises
• one Chairman (in the rank and status of the Union Minister for States) and
• four members, including a lady member (in the rank and status of the Secretary to the Government of India) and the Secretary (in the rank of Joint Secretary to the Govt. of India) along with other supporting staff.

Mandate of the commission-

• Recommend to the Central Government specific programmes of action towards elimination of inequalities in status, facilities and opportunities for Safai Karamcharis.
• Study and evaluate the implementation of the programmes and schemes relating to the social and economic rehabilitation of Safai Karamcharis and scavengers, in particular.
• Investigate specific grievances and take suo-motu notice of matters relating to non-implementation of: 
• programmes or schemes in respect of any group of Safai Karamcharis.
• decisions, guidelines or instructions, aimed at mitigating the hardships of Safai Karamcharis.
• measures for the social and economic upliftment of Safai Karamcharis.
• the provisions of any law in its application to Safai Karamcharis; and take up such matters with the concerned authorities or with the Central or State Governments.
• To study and monitor the working conditions, including those relating to health, safety and wages of Safai Karamcharis working under various kinds of employers including Government, Municipalities and Panchayats, and to make recommendations in this regard.
• Make reports to the Central or State Governments on any matter concerning Safai Karamcharis, taking into account any difficulties or disabilities being encountered by Safai Karamcharis.

However, with the enactment of “The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013”, the mandate and scope of the Commission has also been enlarged. As per Section 31(1) of the said Act, the Commission shall perform the following functions, namely:

1. To monitor the implementation of the Act.
2. To enquire into complaints regarding contravention of the provisions of the Act, and to convey its findings to the concerned authorities with recommendations requiring further action.
3. To advise the Central and the State Governments for effective implementation of the provisions of the Act.
4. To take suo motu notice of matters relating to non-implementation of the Act.
5. In the discharge of its functions, the Commission has the powers to call for information with respect to any matter specified above from any Government or local or other authority.

Manual scavenging in India

• In July last year, government declared that no deaths were reported in the country due to manual scavenging, however, the government admitted that 941 sanitation workers died nationwide while cleaning sewers and septic tanks.
• Though the Government has taken many steps for the upliftment of the Safai Karamcharis, the deprivation suffered by them in socio-economic and educational terms is still far from being eliminated.
• Although manual scavenging has been almost eradicated, sporadic instances do occur.
• Hazardous cleaning of sewer/septic tanks continues to be an area of the highest priority for the Government.
• Hence, the Government feels that there is a continued need to monitor the various interventions and initiatives of the Government for welfare of Safai Karamcharis and to achieve the goal of complete mechanization of sewer/septic tanks cleaning in the country and rehabilitation of manual scavengers.
• India has banned the practice under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.

 What is manual scavenging?

• Manual scavenging is the practice of physically removing human excreta by hand from sewers or septic tanks. This dehumanizing practice is mostly undertaken by members of the Dalit community, which is at the bottom of India’s caste system.
• According to the 2013 Act, the definition of manual scavengers was broadened to include people employed to clean septic tanks, ditches or railway tracks.

Source: The Hindu

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