The Hindu : New Delhi News : Better days ahead for manual scavengers

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Friday, Jul 11, 2008
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New Delhi

Better days ahead for manual scavengers

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit along with Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar launched a self-employment scheme for rehabilitation of manual scavengers and their dependents at Dilshad Garden in East Delhi on Thursday.

Asserting that her government was commitment to rehabilitation of all manual scavengers and their dependents by March 2009, Ms. Dikshit said the new scheme would put an end to the menace of scavenging.

“The State Government will offer meaningful job-oriented courses, alternative self-employment/job after imparting training to scavengers to get them relieved of their traditional practice, which is not at all desirable in today’s world. One-year free skill training in one of the trades would be provided to scavengers. They would be paid a stipend of Rs.1,000 per month during the training period. The Government would also arrange concessional loans for their self-employment project costing up to Rs.5 lakh with capital subsidy up to Rs.20,000,” she added.

Expressing hope that the Delhi Government would sincerely implement the new scheme to bring about a social change, the Union Minister said the training centre would provide an opportunity to trainees to develop their skill to set up self-employment projects.

This is second batch of training organised at Dilshad Garden. While the Apparel Design and Training Centre will train 320 manual scavengers in the garment construction course, National Small Industries Corporation will train 180 scavengers in beautician and electrician course.

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