Government will give national award with a cash prize of 1.5 lakh rupees to three best rag-pickers and three associations for their contribution to keep India clean.
This was announced by Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar at an event on waste management in New Delhi on Friday.
Stating that rag pickers are helping in handling waste, the Minister pitched for setting up of a credible agency like Delhi Metro Rail Corporation that can guide municipal bodies to take measures to address waste management in a scientific way.
The Minister also mentioned that there are adequate funds for waste management.
He expressed concern over the large quantity of untreated waste and sewage in the country and said current rules have been revised to ensure every village of over 5,000 population has a waste treatment plant.