R.K. Radhakrishnan CHENNAI: Over 30,000 scavengers in the State have been rehabilitated and the government was working on the rehabilitation of the remaining identified scavengers by the end of the financial year, the State-level monitoring committee on their rehabilitation was told. According to statistics presented at the meeting held here, which was chaired by Chief Secretary K.S.Sripathi, there were 35,561 identified scavengers (and their dependents) when the first survey was conducted in 1993. Of this, 30,683 scavengers and their dependents had been rehabilitated by the end of 2007-08. Another 2,000 would be covered in 2008-09. Since the 1993 statistics was outdated and as the Committee on the National Scheme for Liberation and Rehabilitation of Scavengers and their Dependents (NSLRS) wanted more accurate statistics, awareness was created early this year to identify the scavengers. As many as 22,811 scavengers and their dependents enrolled as a result. Out of this, 11,896 persons were found to be eligible for rehabilitation under the Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers. Of the remaining, 5,963 were already employed in local bodies and 4,952 were less than 17 years. The nodal agency for their rehabilitation, The Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing and Development Corporation, has promised that the entire 11,896 identified scavengers and their dependents will be rehabilitated by the end of March 2009. The rehabilitation will be by upgrading their skills and providing them with a bank loan for running an enterprise. The loan is actually a grant under the Central government scheme, the Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers. Of the 11,896 persons who are eligible, the TAHDCO has already helped beneficiaries send 2603 applications to banks. After processing, banks have sanctioned loans to 627 persons. Simultaneously, 5,183 persons are being trained in training institutes approved by the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation.