Help Desk to Facilitate Scholarships for Children of Sanitation Workers: Shimla DC

Shimla, Sept 11 – Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap chaired the District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee meeting under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.

It was decided that a dedicated help desk will be set up to ensure children of sanitation workers across the district receive government scholarships. Local bodies will prepare and submit lists of eligible children to the DC office, and the help desk will guide them through the application process. Complete school and class records of these children will also be maintained.

The last date to apply for scholarships via the National Scholarship Portal is September 30, 2025. The DC directed that no eligible child should be left out of the scheme’s benefits.

The meeting also reviewed welfare measures: separate changing rooms in 12 wards of Shimla MC, provision of safety gear including reflective jackets, and mechanized cleaning of sewer chambers. It was noted that no sanitation worker in the district carries night soil manually, and awareness drives are held regularly to promote cleanliness.

All SDMs have been instructed to conduct Vigilance Committee meetings at the sub-divisional level within a week and submit proceedings to the DC office. Non-compliance will invite strict action.