Context: A mobile application to identify and geotag insanitary latrines and manual scavengers was launched.

Swachhata Abhiyan app

• It will provide the authorities concerned details of any insanitary latrine or manual scavenger they notice.
• This would help in rehabilitating all manual scavengers and replace insanitary latrines with sanitary ones.
• Census 2011 reported that there were over 26 lakh insanitary latrines in the country.
• Existence of insanitary latrines is the main reason for manual scavenging.

Government measures:

• Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, mandates survey of insanitary latrines, their demolition and construction of sanitary ones in their place.
• The government has been implementing Swachh Bharat Mission for the same purpose. Under it, more than nine crores sanitary latrines have been constructed. 
• India has been declared as open-defecation-free.
• More than 66,000 manual scavengers have been identified since 2013-14 through surveys by states and also through a national survey in 194 districts.
• The manual scavengers and their dependents are also provided skill training with monthly stipend of Rs 3,000 and subsidy up to Rs 3,25,000 on loans taken by them for self-employment projects.
• Reports from social organisations points towards prevalence of insanitary latrines and manual scavenging in some isolated parts of the country.

https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/mobile-app-launched-to-identify-geotag-insanitary-latrines-manual-scavengers/1998730

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