Goa government declares state free of manual scavenging after survey

The Goa government has declared the state free of manual scavenging, following the implementation of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. The announcement was made by Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Desai. The declaration comes after a survey identified no insanitary latrines or manual scavengers in the state. Residents have 15 days to contest these findings. The government plans to form committees to support the rehabilitation of affected individuals. In 2014, three people died while cleaning a septic tank in Goa. The government will provide compensation of around Rs 38 lakh to their families. The National Commission for Safai Karmacharis has urged officials to end manual scavenging practices.