Safai karamcharis demand special package

Around 1,000 safai karamcharis from 20 states,who were until recently engaged in the outlawed practice of manual scavenging.

Around 1,000 safai karamcharis from 20 states,who were until recently engaged in the outlawed practice of manual scavenging,assembled in Delhi on Monday and resolved to return on January 1 if their demands were not met.

We are giving the government time to announce a special package for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers, said Bezwada Wilson,national convenor of the Safai Karamchari Andolan,at a meeting held in the city.

As part of the rehabilitation package,Wilson demanded that the government apologise to the safai karamcharis for the violation of their dignity; demolish all dry latrines in the country; punish those violating the 1993 Act that outlawed manual scavenging; punish dry latrine owners and those forcibly making safai karamcharis do manual scavenging; release Rs 5 lakh per manual scavenger for rehabilitation,excluding Rs 10,000 as immediate relief; 5 acres of land; Antyodaya cards and houses. He also demanded special pension for women safai karamchari who are either single,widowed or aged.

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