PM said steps will be taken against manual scavenging: Aamir Khan

New Delhi: Bollywood actor Aamir Khan met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today to highlight concerns of manual scavengers engaged in cleaning excreta. The actor also met Mukul Wasnik, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, at Shastri Bhavan.

“I had gone to meet the PM to discuss the issue of manual scavenging. I requested him that this practice which still exists in our country should end soon. The PM has assured me that he will look into this matter and he sent me to Mukulji who handles Welfare Ministry,” Mr Khan told reporters after the meeting that lasted for nearly 30 minutes.

In a recent episode of his TV show “Satyamev Jayate”, the 47-year-old actor had focused on the life of over three lakh manual scavengers who do the work of cleaning excreta even today and are considered as untouchables by many in the society. He had also promised to meet the PM.

“Mukulji assured me that he will work towards putting an end to this problem. The ministry is already working on the issue and he says that they will put an end to this soon,” Mr Khan said.

“We are happy that Aamir has brought this topic into the limelight and I believe that everyone in this country has the right to live equally. Government of India is working towards resolving this issue and PM has also turned his attention towards it,” the minister added.

The actor’s show raises one social issue in every episode and different aspects of problems like female foeticide, child sexual abuse and domestic violence have been discussed.

Last month, he had made a presentation before a parliamentary panel on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the pharmaceutical sector, after his show spoke about malpractices in the medical profession.