UPSC Prelims 2016 Q16: Current Affairs – Indian Government Schemes & Initiatives
'Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan' is a national campaign to
- (a) rehabilitate the homeless and destitute persons and provide them with suitable sources of livelihood
- (b) release the sex workers from their practice and provide them with alternative sources of livelihood
- (c) eradicate the practice of manual scavenging and rehabilitate the manual scavengers
- (d) release the bonded labourers from their bondage and rehabilitate them
Answer: (c) eradicate the practice of manual scavenging and rehabilitate the manual scavengers
Explanation
Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan
It is a national campaign for dignity (garima) run by civil society, led by the organisation Jan Sahas.
Its aim is to end manual scavenging and rehabilitate those freed from it.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Target practice | Manual scavenging: cleaning dry latrines and sewers by hand |
| Most affected | Dalit women |
| Method | Persuading people to give up the work; helping them find other livelihoods |
| Known for | The Maila Mukti Yatra across several States |
The law:
| Act | Provision |
|---|---|
| 1993 Act | Banned employment of manual scavengers and dry latrines |
| Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 | Wider ban, plus rehabilitation of manual scavengers |
Answer: (c) eradicate the practice of manual scavenging and rehabilitate the manual scavengers.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. It is not a campaign for homeless and destitute persons.
- (b) Incorrect. It does not deal with the rehabilitation of sex workers.
- (c) CORRECT. It works to eradicate manual scavenging and rehabilitate the manual scavengers.
- (d) Incorrect. Release of bonded labourers is covered by a separate law and scheme.
Key point
Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan: civil-society campaign (Jan Sahas) to end manual scavenging; backed by the 2013 Act on prohibition and rehabilitation.
Remember
Garima Abhiyaan = end manual scavenging.
Common mistakes
- Reading 'garima' (dignity) as a general welfare campaign for the homeless.
- Thinking it is a Government scheme; it is a civil-society campaign.
- Confusing manual scavengers with bonded labourers, who have a 1976 law.
Exam tip
Garima = dignity. In Indian policy, 'dignity' campaigns usually concern manual scavenging.
Sources
- Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013
- Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment — Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers