✎ Manual scavenging eradicated in India as per 2024-25 survey; government provided cash aid, skill training, and capital subsidy for rehabilitation.

Relevance for Banking, SSC & RBI Grade B exams: Economy/Governance

A recent nationwide survey conducted during 2024-25 under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, has found no person engaged in manual scavenging across any district in India, marking a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to eradicate this dehumanizing practice. The survey, which follows earlier exercises in 2013 and 2018 that identified 58,098 manual scavengers, confirms the success of rehabilitation measures, including a one-time cash assistance of ₹40,000 provided to all identified individuals. Under the Swachhata Udyami Swarozgar Yojana (SUSY), later integrated into the National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme launched in July 2023, 5,632 beneficiaries have received skill development training and 483 have been given capital subsidies to start alternative livelihoods between 2023-24 and 2025-26.

This development is crucial for banking and governance aspirants as it highlights the government’s commitment to social justice and inclusive growth, a key theme in exams like RBI Grade B and SSC CGL. The NAMASTE scheme, aimed at mechanizing sanitation and ensuring the dignity and safety of sanitation workers, aligns with broader economic policies promoting formalization and skill development. For banking exams, understanding such welfare schemes and their impact on labor market formalization can be relevant for questions on financial inclusion and government initiatives. Similarly, for SSC aspirants, this underscores the importance of constitutional provisions and statutory bodies like the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) in monitoring and addressing social issues.

Source: PIB (Press Information Bureau)

Generated by AanyaAi for educational purpose.