Assam CM
Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal chairing a meeting of the state level monitoring committee for implementation of Manual Scavengers Act 2013 at Janata Bhawan on Thursday.

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday directed the WPT&BC department to carry out a statewide survey to identify the manual scavengers in the state in a time-bound manner.

Sonowal also asked the department to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for augmenting skills of the manual scavengers to open new job opportunities for them.

The chief minister while chairing a meeting of the state level monitoring committee for implementation of Manual Scavengers Act 2013 at his office conference room in Janata Bhawan on Thursday stressed on the need to adopt a focused approach to abolish manual scavenging in the state.

He advocated the need for introducing modern and practical ways to sewerage management and directed the department to partner with urban development department in identifying the manual scavengers through a statewide survey.

The CM also instructed to register the manual scavengers to bring them into the ambit of government welfare schemes and work for their empowerment.

Noteworthy that the WPT&BC department has already conducted survey in Golaghat, Lakhimpur and Jorhat district and identified 542 manual scavengers.

Underlying the need for giving a more dignified calling to the people presently engaged in manual scavenging, he asked the department to introduce mechanized way of sewerage cleaning.

The Assam CM directed to procure more cesspool emptier machines to be utilized for sewerage collection in municipal and town areas throughout the state.

The CM asked the department to formulate a subsidy policy for procurement of cesspool cleaning machines giving opportunity for private parties to venture into this field.

He also highlighted the need for a comprehensive scheme for rehabilitation of the manual scavengers and adopting strategy for their empowerment through skill development programmes of the government.

Moreover, with a view to introduce a more focused approach in dealing with the issues related to manual scavengers, chief minister Sonowal further asked the department to take necessary steps for constitution of a state level commission for Safai Karmacharis in line with the National Safai Karmachari Commission.

Chief minister Sonowal also emphasized on regular sensitization drives on the importance of maintaining cleanliness and asked the urban local bodies to carry out awareness drives in towns and cities.

Minister for WPT&BC department Chandan Brahma, MLA Gurujyoti Das and other top-level officials were present at the meeting.