NHRC Advisory on Protection of Human Rights ofthePersons Engaged inManual Scavenging or Hazardous Cleaning iii. The hiring agency/ employer should be made responsible for the risks associated with the job. Necessary precautions must be taken for the complete safety of the workers. The welfare/developmental schemes including the life insurance schemes should be extended to them. iv. 4. Considering the risk of infection associated with the work, the sanitary workers be treated as frontline health workers for all purposes. Fixing the responsibility and accountability of the concerned authorities: i. ii. iii. iv. 5. The States/ UTs should investigate all reports of non-conversion of dry/ insanitary latrines into sanitary latrines by both individual household and the local authority. Necessary action against the defaulters for non-compliance of the law be initiated. In case of death of any sanitary worker while undertaking hazardous cleaning work, the local authority and the contractor/employer are to be held responsible and accountable, jointly and severally, irrespective of the type of hiring/engagement of the sanitary worker. Considering the risk and technicalities associated with the cleaning of sewer and septic tanks, the local authorities should exclusively take up the responsibility of getting the work done under their direct supervision. If the said work is to be outsourced, it should be given to only those contractors who fulfill the requisite criteria. However, the responsibility of ensuring the safety of the sanitary workers will primarily remain vidth the local authority. The State Govemment(s)/ local authority should be fully responsible for ensuring that the payment of one-time compensation and rehabilitation of all identified manual scavengers are completed in a time-bound manner. Rehabilitation i. Providing one-time cash assistance and credit support is mandatory in accordance with "The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013" (herein after referred as the Act of 2013). However, this should be in addition to access to the livelihood support necessary to be provided both immediate and long-term basis. ii. iii. iv. All cash assistance under the rehabilitation schemes must be provided through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) to check any pilferage. Suitable NGOs/ community organizations may be identified/ selected for assisting in rehabilitation, and in finding alternate livelihood opportunities, and for continued longterm support to ensure sustainable alternative livelihood to such workers. Livelihood programs should be gender-sensitive as well as considerate to the local conditions. v. Requisite efforts be made to integrate the livelihood program with the necessary training to enhance capability for earning livelihood. The existing schemes of various Ministries, National Urban Livelihood Mission, National Rural Livelihood Mission, etc., may be NHRC Page 2