Panels to monitor implementation of Manual Scavenging Prohibition Act in J&K

Jammu, July 9: The government has constituted Union Territory Level Monitoring Committee, District Level Vigilance Committees and Sub-Divisional Level Vigilance Committees for effective implementation of the “Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013”, in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Union Territory Level Monitoring Committee (UTLMC) will have R R Bhatnagar, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor, as its chairperson J&K.

Director General of Police, J&K; Administrative Secretary, Home Department; Administrative Secretary, Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj; Administrative Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department; Chairperson, Union Territory Commission for Safai Karamcharis (Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Jammu and Srinagar); Convenor, Union Territory Level Bankers Committee (Chairperson, Jammu and Kashmir

Bank; Director, Panchayati Raj, J&K; a representative of National Commission for Scheduled Castes and National Commission for Safai Karamcharis, Sheikh Sabba, Tahir Masood Farooqi, Social Worker, Human Welfare Voluntary Organization (NGO), Sonia Sotra wife of Kala Masih, Sanitation Worker and Kala Masih son of Khursheed, Sanitation worker (Representatives of organizations working for the prohibition of manual scavenging and rehabilitation of manual scavengers, or representing the community) will be its members.

Administrative Secretary, Social Welfare Department will be its member secretary.

As per its terms of reference, the panel will monitor and advise the Union Territory government and local authorities for effective implementation of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. It will coordinate the functions of all concerned agencies; look into any other matter incidental thereto, or connected therewith, for implementation of the Act.

It will meet at-least once in every six months and observe such rules of procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its meetings as may be prescribed.

The District Level Vigilance Committee will have District Magistrate (concerned) as its chairperson.

Senior Superintendent of Police (concerned); Additional District Development Commissioner (CEO, District Development Council) (concerned); Joint Commissioner, JMC and SMC (in case of district Jammu and Srinagar only) and Executive Officer, Municipality or notified area Committee concerned (in case of districts other than Jammu and Srinagar); a representative of Cantonment Board, situated in case of districts Jammu and Srinagar; one representative to be nominated by the railway authority located in the District (wherever available); four social workers belonging to organizations working for the prohibition of manual scavenging and rehabilitation of manual scavengers, or representing the scavenger community, resident in the district (to be nominated by the District Magistrate, two of whom will be women; one person to represent the financial and credit institutions in the district (to be nominated by the District Magistrate); Assistant Commissioner Development (concerned) and Such District Level Officers of the Department and agencies, who in the opinion of the District Magistrate, have a significant role in the implementation of the Act will be its members.

The District Social Welfare Officer (concerned) will be the member secretary.

Sub-Divisional Level Vigilance Committees will have Sub Divisional Magistrate (concerned) as chairperson.

Chairperson, Block Development Council, (concerned); Block Development Officer (concerned); Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (concerned); Executive Officer, Notified Area Committee or representative of Municipal Corporations (concerned); representative of Cantonment Board, if any, situated in the Sub-Division; one representative to be nominated by the railway authority located in the sub-division, wherever available; two social workers belonging to the organizations working for the prohibition of

manual scavenging and rehabilitation of the manual scavengers, or representing the scavenger community resident in the Sub-Division (to be nominated by the District Magistrate, one of whom shall be a woman) and one person to represent the financial and credit institutions in the Sub-Division (to be nominated by the Sub Divisional Magistrate) will be the members.

Tehsil Social Welfare Officer (concerned) will be the member secretary.

As per the terms of reference, Vigilance Committees will advise the District Magistrate/Sub-Divisional Magistrate, on the action which needs to be taken to ensure that the provisions of this Act or of any rule made there under are properly implemented. They will oversee the economic and social rehabilitation of manual scavengers and will coordinate the functions of all concerned agencies with a view to channelize adequate credit for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers. They will also monitor the registration of offences under this Act and their investigation and prosecution and will meet at least once in every three months.