Shillong, Sept 4: South West Garo Hills district has put a ban on the practice of manual scavenging with a fine up to Rs 2,00,000 for the first offense.
A notification by the Deputy Commissioner of South West Garo Hills issued on Tuesday, mandates that no person, local authority, or agency shall engage or employ anyone, either directly or indirectly, for hazardous cleaning of sewers or septic tanks.
Violators are subject to severe penalties, including imprisonment for up to two years and a fine of up to ₹2,00,000 for the first offense, it said. Repeat offenders face harsher consequences, with potential imprisonment of up to five years and fines reaching ₹5,00,000, added the notification.
It further urges citizens to report any instances of manual scavenging to the nearest police station.
