National Commission for Safai Karmacharis

Context: The government informed that there is no proposal to convert National Commission for Safai Karmacharis into a statutory body.

About the National Commission for Safai Karmacharis:

• The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) is currently a non-statutory body.
• It investigates the conditions of Safai Karamcharis in India and makes recommendations to the Government of India.
• It was constituted in 1994 as a statutory body for a three-year period under the NCSK ACT, 1993.
• It continued till February 2004, when the relevant Act expired.

Functions of the commission:

• recommending programmes to the Central Government to eliminate inequalities in status and facilities, and to promote opportunities for Safai Karamcharis.
• studying and evaluating the implementation of the programmes and schemes for the social and economic rehabilitation of Safai Karamcharis.
• Investigating specific grievances and take suo moto notice non-implementation of:
  • programmes or schemes in respect of any group of Safai Karamcharis;
  • decisions, guidelines or instructions, aimed at mitigating the hardship of Safai Karamcharis with measures for the social and economic upliftment of Safai Karamcharis;
  • the provisions of any law in its application to Safai Karamcharis,
  • take up such matters with the concerned authorities or with the Central or State Governments;
• make periodical reports to the Central and State Governments
• In the discharge of its functions, NCSK can demand information from any Government or local or other authority.
• As per mandate of National Commission for Safai Karamcharis identification of safai karamcharis has not to be done by them.
• Sanitation is a state subject and no central data is maintained in this regard.

National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation:

• NSKFDC is a not-for-profit company under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• It aims to uplift the Safai Karamcharis, Scavengers and their dependents socially and economically.
• The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013
• The Act aims to eliminate insanitary latrines (those not connected to pits/septic tanks/sewage lines) alongside tracking the rehabilitation of manual scavengers in other occupations and conducting periodic surveys.
• To eliminate this practice, the act has provisions for stringent penalties, for direct or indirect employment of any person in hazardous cleaning of sewers or septic tanks by any person, local authority or agency.
  • For example, even the first instance of its contravention is punishable with imprisonment up to two years or fine up to Rs 2 lakh or both.
• If a worker dies while performing such work, even with safety gear and other precautions, the employer is required to pay compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family.

Source: PIB

Previous Year Questions

Q.1) In India under cyber insurance for individuals, which of the following benefits are generally covered, in addition to payment for the loss of funds and other benefits? (2020)

1. Cost of restoration of the computer system in case of malware disrupting access to one’s computer
2. Cost of a new computer if some miscreant wilfully damages it, if proved so
3. Cost of hiring a specialized consultant to minimize the loss in case of cyber extortion
4. Cost of defence in the Court of Law if any third party files a suit

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1, 2 and 4 only
2. 1, 3 and 4 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q.2) Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Maternity Benefit Amendment Act, 2017? (2019)

1. Pregnant women are entitled for three months pre-delivery and three months post-delivery paid leave.
2. Enterprises with creches must allow the mother minimum six creche visits daily.
3. Women with two children get reduced entitlements.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 only
3. 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3