Lok Sabha Question No. 3421 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-01
Subject: National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: RAMDAS CHANDRABHANJI TADAS, NARANBHAI KACHHADIA, CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI, SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI, BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. +3421 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.01.2019

NATIONAL SAFAI KARAMCHARIS FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

## +3421. SHRI RAMDAS C TADAS:

SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:

SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the date on which the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation has been constituted and the date since when the said institution has started functioning;
- (b) the purpose of the Government behind setting up of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis and the names of the States in which the said commission is functioning so far;
- (c) the details of works done by the commission so far;
- (d) whether any funds have been allocated for the commission; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)

- (a): National   Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation(NSKFDC) A wholly owned Govt. of India Undertaking under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (M/o SJ&E) was set up on 24th January 1997 as a Company "Not for Profit" under Section 25 of the Companies Act; 1956. NSKFDC is in operation since October; 1997.
- (b): The purpose of setting up of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) is at Annexure-[. NCSK is functioning from its office at Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market; New Delhi. It has no other regional or branch offices anywhere in India:   However the jurisdiction of the Commission extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir:
- (c): The present Commission has undertaken extensive touring of the country to study the socioeconomic and conditions of Safai Karamcharis and their dependents. During their visits, the Commission has interacted with the Safai Karamcharis- both individually as well as through their representative associations to know their grievances. The grievances were then taken up by living

the Commission with the concerned authorities. The Commission has also held State /District level Review Meetings to monitor the implementation of M.S Act, 2013.

The Commission had also received complaints/petitions from Safai Karamcharis from all over the   Country. The Commission called for the factual reports in connection with these complaints/petitions   from the concerned authorities and impressed upon them to redress the grievances Of the aggrieved Safai Karamcharis:

Based on the information received through or electronic media, the Commission has taken suo-moto cognizance of sewer death cases and impressed upon the authorities to pay Rs 10 lakh compensation in terms of Supreme Court Judgement dated 27.3.2014 in WP.\_No. 583 of 2003 and also directed for registration of case under provisions of M.S Act, 2013. The complaints of sewer death cases have been handled by the Commission with extra sensitivity. print

Based on its findings, the Commission has given recommendations  for socio-economic and social empowerment of safai karamcharis/manual scavengers, to the Government from time to time.

(d) & (e) Yes: An amount of Rs. 592.00 lakh has been allocated to NCSK for the financial year 2018-19 for its administrative expenditure.

****

Annexure referred in (b) of Lok Sabha question No.3421 for answer on 01-01-2019 part

## MANDATE OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR SAFAI KARAMCHARIS

The mandate of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis is as follows:

- a. To recommend to the Central Government specific programmes of action towards elimination of inequalities in
- b. Study and evaluate the implementation of the programmes and schemes relating to the social and economic rehabilitation of Safai Karamcharis; and scavengers, in particular.
3. status, facilities and opportunities for Safai Karamcharis\_
4. C Investigate specific grievances and take suo-moto notice of matters relating to non-implementation of:
5. programmes or schemes in respect of any group of Safai Karamcharis
6. ii\_ decisions, guidelines or instructions, aimed at mitigating the hardships of Safai Karamcharis
7. iii\_
8. measures for the social and economic upliftment of Safai Karamcharis
9. iv the provisions any law in its application to Safai Karamcharis; and take up such matters with the concerned authorities or with the Central or State Governments
- d. 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.
11. e to the Governments on any matter concerning Safai Karamcharis,  taking into account any difficulties or disabilities   being encountered by Safai
12. f.
13. Make reports Central or  State Karamcharis
14. other matter which may be referred to it by the Central Government Any

Unstarred

However , with the enactment of 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: -

- a
- b. To enquire into complaints regarding contravention of the provisions of the Act, and to convey its   findings to the concerned authorities with recommendations
- To monitor the implementation of the Act,
- requiring further action-
- C To advise the Central and the State Governments for effective implementation of the provisions of the Act\_
- d. To take suo-moto notice of matter relating to nonimplementation of the Act.