'Manual scavenging worst violation of human rights'

NEW DELHI: Terming manual scavenging as one of the "worst" violation of human rights, National Human Rights Commission has asked the government not to extend the March 2009 deadline for eradicating the practice.
    
"The extended deadline to eradicate manual scavenging which had been shifted from December 2007 to March 2009 at no cost should be further extended and the country should become manual-scavenging free," the NHRC said at a national workshop on manual scavenging and sanitation here on Thursday.
    
Expressing happiness that most states have agreed for resurvey of manual scavengers by independent agencies, it said it was reassuring that the states have come out of the "defensive mode" in tackling the problem.
    
The states should take the resurvey of manual scavengers on a priority basis and there should be a clear demarcation between manual scavengers and sanitation workers, the NHRC said.
    
It also asked the government not to stop the scholarship given to the children of manual scavengers who were rehabilitated, it said.
    
Those who are still employed as manual scavengers in any part of the country can approach the NHRC or state commissions with their grievances, it said.
    
Addressing the workshop, NHRC Secretary General A K Jain said, "in 21st century when we talk about women empowerment and equality, then how can a demeaning profession like manual scavenging still exist."