New chairperson and members appointed to National Commission for Safai Karamcharis

The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis: what happened?

The NCSK looks into the welfare and grievances of sanitation workers. A related law, the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, bans manual scavenging.

• Chairperson, vice-chairperson and members of NCSK appointed, effective until 31 Mar 2028 [PIB].

Why does this matter?

• Sanitation work still carries health risks and social stigma.
• The Commission is a channel for workers’ grievances to reach the Government.
• Two members bring direct experience of State safai karamchari commissions.

Who are the new appointees?

• Chairperson: earlier Chairman of Uttarakhand’s Safai Karamchari Commission; served on the Central Monitoring Committee under the 2013 Manual Scavengers Act.
• Vice-Chairperson: a farmer from Odisha working for SC, ST and disadvantaged groups.
• Members include a former Member of UP’s State Safai Karamchari Commission (2019 to 2022), a Hindi professor at Bareilly College, and a retired municipal engineer.

Which constitutional provisions apply?

• Article 17: “Untouchability” is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden.
• Article 46: the State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections, in particular the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

What can Prelims ask on the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis?

• NCSK: welfare body for sanitation workers under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Current Commission’s tenure runs to 31 March 2028.
• Manual scavenging is banned by the 2013 Act.