The Planning
Commission in consultation with the concerned Ministries/Departments
of the Central Government has proposed a Draft National Action
Plan for Total Eradication of Manual Scavenging by 2007. Starting
this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today, the Minister
of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Sanjay Paswan
said that this is under consideration of the Government. He
said that the Draft Plan amalgamates various schemes presently
being run by various Ministries / departments for liberation
and rehabilitation of scavengers. He said that this has been
done in compliance with the announcement made by the Prime Minister
in this regard on the Independence Day last year. Dr. Paswan
said that under the Scheme of Liberation and Rehabilitation
of Scavengers and their Dependents (NSLRS) more than 1.5 lakh
scavengers and 3.86 lakh of their dependents have been trained
and rehabilitated by 2000-2001. They are among the 6.67 lakh
identified scavengers, he added.
