Context:

• The Union Cabinet has approved the extension of tenure of the National Commission for Safai Karmacharis (NCSK) beyond 31.3.2019 for three years.
• National Commission for Safai Karmacharis (NCSK):
• The NCSK is a statutory body that looks into matters concerning the Safai Karamcharis’ welfare and makes recommendations to the government.
• For the first time, NCSK was constituted as a statutory body under the NCSK ACT, 1993.
• It is working for the welfare of both Safai Karamcharis and Manual Scavengers.
• It is mandated to work towards the elimination of inequalities in status facilities and opportunities for Safai Karamcharis and has an important role to ensure rehabilitation of all the identified manual scavengers on a time-bound basis.
• Under Section 31 of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act 2013, the Commission is to perform functions namely:
• To monitor the implementation of the Act;
• To inquire into complaints regarding contravention of provisions of the Act; and
• To advice Central and State Governments for effective implementation of the Act.

Extension of Tenure:

• NCSK works for the welfare and upliftment of the Safai Karmacharis and persons engaged in manual scavenging in the country.
• This commission continued till February 2004, when the relevant Act expired. Thereafter, the tenure of the commission has been extended from time to time, as a non-statutory body, the last such extension being up to 31 March 2016.
• The number of Manual Scavengers identified under the MS Act Survey as on 31.01.2019 is 14226.
• Though the Government has taken many steps for the upliftment of the Safai Karamcharis, the deprivation suffered by them in socio-economic and educational terms is still far from being eliminated.
• Further the practice of manual scavenging is still prevalent in the country and its eradication continues.