The Government of India, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in the year 1992-93 had launched the “National Scheme for Liberation and Rehabilitation of Scavengers and their Dependents (NSLRS).
Objectives: The National Scheme for Liberation and Rehabilitation of Scavengers and their dependents was to liberate them from their existing hereditary obnoxious and inhuman occupation of manually removing the night-soil as a head load of filth and to engage them in alternative, dignified trade/ occupation in a time bound manner.
Implementation: The funds under the scheme was released by the Govt. of India in the year 1992-93 & 1993-94 for Rs. 102.50 lakhs for providing Financial Assistance in the shape of subsidy and Margin( redeemable loan @ 4% interest) by the corporation for establishment of income generating units with Bank Assistance.
In order to implement the scheme survey of the community was conducted way back in the year 1993 by the Urban Dev. Deptt. which was taken by the corporation and said survey cannot be treated as a realistic data as on date. Under the said program the corporation upto 31.3.2007 has trained 633 candidates in different trades involving financial assistance of Rs.38.34 lacs and has rehabilitated 384 number of scavengers and their dependents involving subsidy of Rs. 36.15 lakhs Margin Money of Rs.26.41 lakhs and Bank Loan Rs.64.73.
Re-formulation of the scheme with same objectives: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Govt. of India, had a relook at the scheme and it was felt that some Scavengers & their dependents are still required to be rehabilitated. The Ministry has re-formulated the new “ Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers & their Dependents (SRMS) and accordingly the scheme has been approved by the Union Cabinet with the direction that the scheme be administered as a National Priority with and complete its implementation in a time bound manner by March, 2009.
Implementation of “Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers and their Dependents (SRMS)”.