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Cabinet approved the extension of tenure of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) for three years.

Background

• The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis recommends the government regarding specific programmes for welfare of the Safai Karamcharis.
• In accordance with the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, the NCSK has been tasked to monitor the implementation of the act.
• Despite the initiatives taken by the government to avert the socio-economic deprivation of the scavengers, hazardous cleaning of sewer and septic tanks continues to be a major issue. 

About NCSK: 

• The commission was established in 1993 and was valid till 1997 followed by the further extension of the tenure of the act. 
• The commission was later extended as a non-statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• The tenure of the commission is extended from time to time through government resolutions.