The Centre has asked the states and union territories to review the situation of manual scavenging and take immediate corrective actions for its elimination.

Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Kumari Selja gave this information in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

She said the Centre has initiated several schemes for eliminating manual scavenging in the country. The Minister said central assistance is released to the states under the Integrated Low

Cost Sanitation Scheme for conversion of dry latrines into sanitary latrines and construction of new sanitary latrines in urban areas.

The states are also given central assistance under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan for conversion of dry latrines in rural areas.

She said Manual Scavengers and their dependents are also provided financial assistance for their rehabilitation in alternative occupations under the Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers.