Cabinet approves extension of NCSK

Context

The Union Cabinet has approved the extension of the tenure of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) for three years beyond 31st March, 2022.

What is NCSK?

• The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) was constituted in 1994 as a statutory body by an Act of Parliament viz. ‘National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993’, for a period of three years i.e. up to 1997. 
• As per sub-section (4) of Section 1 of the Act, it ceased to exist after 31.3.1997. 
• However, validity of the Act was extended up to March, 2002, and then up to February, 2004 vide Amendment Acts passed in 1997 and 2001 respectively.
• With the lapsing of the “The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993” w.e.f. 29.2.2004, the Commission is acting as a Non-Statutory body of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment whose tenure is extended from time to time through Government Resolutions.

Composition of the Commission

• The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis comprises 
• one Chairman (in the rank and status of the Union Minister for States) 
• four members, including a lady member (in the rank and status of the Secretary to the Government of India) 
• Secretary (in the rank of Joint Secretary to the Govt. of India) along with other supporting staff

Key-functions of the Commission

• It recommends to the Central Government specific programmes of action towards elimination of inequalities in status, facilities and opportunities for Safai Karamcharis.
• It studies and evaluates the implementation of the programmes and schemes relating to the social and economic rehabilitation of Safai Karamcharis; and scavengers, in particular.
• It investigates specific grievances and take suo-motu notice of matters relating to non-implementation of programmes or schemes in respect of any group of Safai Karamcharis; decisions, guidelines or instructions, aimed at mitigating the hardships of Safai Karamcharis and measures for the social and economic upliftment of Safai Karamcharis.
• The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013”:
• With the enactment of “The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013”, the mandate and scope of the Commission has also been enlarged. As per Section 31(1) of the said Act, the Commission shall perform the following functions, namely:-
• To monitor the implementation of the Act.
• To enquire into complaints regarding contravention of the provisions of the Act, and to convey its findings to the concerned authorities with recommendations requiring further action.
• To advise the Central and the State Governments for effective implementation of the provisions of the Act.
• To take suo motu notice of matters relating to non-implementation of the Act.