Aamir meets PM, wants manual scavenging to be scrapped

Aamir called on the prime minister at his official residence at 7, Race Course Road, and sought that the practice be done away with.

Later, in a joint Press conference with Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Wasnik, Amir said that both Singh and Wasnik were aware of the issue and would step up efforts to address it as soon as possible. He met Wasnik at his office in Shastri Bhawan.

“We believe that every person should have the right to live a life of dignity. The fact that even today, a section of our society works as manual scavengers, it is unfortunate for not only the society but for entire nation,” Wasnik said.

Aamir had highlighted the issue in a recent episode of his popular television programme “Satyameva Jayate”.

Meanwhile, nearly 200 scavengers from across Maharashtra protested here on Monday to press their demands for an end to the pernicious practice. Led by a social group, Campaign Against Manual Scavenging in Maharashtra, the protesters were barely a fraction of the estimated 35,000 manual scavengers in the state, engaged in the dehumanising work for decades, said their leader Pradip More. Among other things, the scavengers are demanding alternate and dignified jobs, decent housing and education.

“In December last year, a public interest litigation in this regard was filed in the Bombay High Court. Three hearings have been held so far, but not a single official from any of the departments concerned attended it. The matter is getting delayed... The next hearing is on July 26,” More said.

The social group’s lawyer Asim Sarode said that manual scavenging has been banned in India under the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993.