UPSC IAS - 2016

‘Rashtriya Garima ‘Abhiyaan’ is a national campaign to

Year Asked: 2016

A
rehabilitate the homeless and destitute persons and provide them with suitable sources of livelihood
B
release the sex workers form 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

Correct Answer

C. eradicate the practice of manual scavenging and rehabilitate the manual scavengers

Detailed Explanation

The correct answer is C. Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan, launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, is a campaign to eradicate manual scavenging and rehabilitate manual scavengers. It works under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, which bans the employment of manual scavengers and provides for their identification, rehabilitation and alternative livelihoods.

  • A is wrong. Rehabilitation of the homeless is the job of urban livelihood and shelter schemes such as DAY-NULM and the night shelter provisions under it. It is not this campaign's mandate.
  • B is wrong. Rescue and rehabilitation of sex workers falls under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 and schemes like Ujjawala and Swadhar Greh. Garima has no link to it.
  • D is wrong. Release and rehabilitation of bonded labourers is governed by the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, and the Ministry of Labour's rehabilitation schemes.

The core concept is the dignity of labour and the constitutional commitment under Article 17 (abolition of untouchability) and Article 21. For Mains, it links to GS-2 (welfare schemes, vulnerable sections) and GS-1 (caste and social justice).

Trap: Aspirants who recall a campaign with "Garima" in its name often pick A, because they associate dignity with the homeless. Remember that Garima targets manual scavenging specifically.

This question appeared in UPSC Prelims 2016 GS Paper-1.

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