New Delhi, Feb 18 (IANS): Himachal Pradesh has become free of manual scavenging, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dhani Ram Shandil said Wednesday. The inhuman practice of manual scavenging still continues in most states of the country.

Shandil said district-level vigilance committees have been constituted under the chairmanship of the deputy commissioners to ensure proper implementation of the provisions of Manual Scavengers and Rehabilitation Act of 2013.

Speaking at a conference of state ministers here, Shandil said the people compelled to work in the inhuman and unsanitary service have been rehabilitated by giving them a stipend of Rs.3,000 per month for skill development training.

He said even the state has constituted the state-level monitoring committee to ensure the effective implementation of the act so that the affected families and their wards could get proper training and rehabilitation facilities for their livelihood.