Manual scavenging banned in Sohra

SHILLONG, Aug 30: With the abolishment of manual scavenging by the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Acts, 2013, the construction of insanitary latrines, and employment of a manual scavenger is strictly prohibited, an official statement issued by the Sohra SDO said on Friday.
According to the statement, no person, authority, or any agency shall construct an insanitary latrine, or engage or employ, either directly or indirectly, a manual scavenger, and every person so engaged or employed shall stand discharged immediately from any obligation.
Contravention of the Act is punishable with imprisonment up to two years or a fine of up to Rs two lakh or both for the first contravention. ‘Subsequent contravention is punishable with improvement up to five years or with a fíne up to Rs five lakh or with both’.