Why in News?

Union Cabinet has recently approved the extension the tenure of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) for 3 years beyond 2025.

Safai Karamchari means a person engaged in, or employed for, manually carrying human excreta or any sanitation work.

• The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) was constituted on 12^th August, 1994 as a statutory body, for a period of 3 years.
• It was subsequently extended up to 2002 and 2004 and extended so many times until recently in 2025.
• The Commission is acting as a Non-Statutory body of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment from 2004.
• National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993, was enacted in September, 1993 and a statutory National Commission for Safai Karmcharis was first constituted in August, 1994.
• Functions - Recommend to the Central Government specific programs of action towards elimination of inequalities in status, facilities and opportunities of Safai Karmacharis.
• Study and evaluate implementation of the programmes and schemes relating to the social and economic rehabilitation of Safai Karmacharis and scavengers in particular.
• Investigate specific grievances and take suo-motu notice of matter relating to non-implementation of
  • Programmes or schemes in respect of any group of Safai Karmacharis,
  • Decisions, guidelines etc. Aimed at mitigating the hardships of Safai Karmacharis;
  • Measures for the social and economic upliftment of Safai Karmacharis etc,
• Study and monitor the working conditions, including those relating to health safety and wages of Safai Karmacharis,
• Make reports to the Central or State Government on any matter concerning Safai Karmacharis, taking into account any difficulties or disabilities being encountered by Safai Karmacharis; and
• Any other matter which may be referred to it by the Central Government.
• Under the provisions of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act 2013), NCSK shall perform the functions namely:
  • To monitor the implementation of the Act
  • To enquire into complaints regarding contravention of the provisions of this Act and to convey its findings to concerned authorities with recommendations requiring further action;
  • To advice the Central and State Govt for effective implementation of the provisions of this Act; and
  • To take suo-motu notice of matter relating to non-implementation of this Act.
• It is the only body keeping track of sewer deaths in India.

Reference

PIB | National Commission for Safai Karamcharis