The Gujarat Legislative Assembly on Friday unanimously passed a statutory motion moved by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Bhikhusinh Parmar, resolving to repeal the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993.
The motion stated that the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993 was enacted by Parliament to provide for the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers as well as construction or continuance of dry latrines and for the regulation of construction and maintenance of water-seal latrines. And, it added, Gujarat government had adopted the same.
Parmar said that the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 was passed by Parliament in 2013 for the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers, rehabilitation of manual scavengers and their families and it covers all the provisions of the 1993 Act, while increasing the punishment from one-year imprisonment to five-year imprisonment and fine from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5 lakh. And it is in force since December 6, 2013.
Parmar cited a request from the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for the passing of a resolution for the repeal of the 1993 Act which has become “redundant & obsolete” in view of the 2013 Act so as to “enable parliament to take further necessary action”.
The motion to pass the resolution to repeal the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993 was passed unanimously.
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