Conduct re-survey of manual scavengers: Centre asks states

New Delhi: The Union Government has asked all the states to conduct a re-survey sample of manual scavengers.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday, Secretary in Minister of Social Justice Anita Agnihotri said the number of identified manual scavengers across the country is little over 12 thousands, while Uttar Pradesh alone has 10 thousand.

"But the actual number of people who are practicing manual scavenging could be much more than that," she added.

The ministry has estimated there are 2.5 lakh manual scavengers across the country and only 10 to 12 states have sent the details of 12000 manual scavengers.

The ministry has already provided financial assistance of 40,000 rupees to people who leave manual scavenging.