3. Prohibition of employment of manual scavengers, etc.—(1) Subject to sub-section (2) and the
other provisions of this Act, with effect from such date and in such area as the State Government may, by
notification, specify in this behalf, no person shall—
(a) engage in or employ for or permit to be engaged in or employed for any other person for
manually carrying human excreta; or
(b) construct or maintain a dry latrine.
(2) The State Government shall not issue a notification under sub-section (1) unless—
(i) it has, by notification, given not less than ninety days’ notice of its intention to do so;
(ii) adequate facilities for the use of water-seal latrines in that area exist; and
(iii) it is necessary or expedient to do so for the protection and improvement of the environment
or public health in that area.
4. Power to exempt.—The State Government may, by a general or special order published in the
Official Gazette, and upon such conditions, if any, as it may think fit to impose, exempt any area,
category of buildings or class of persons from any provisions of this Act or from any specified
requirement contained in this Act or any rule, order, notification or scheme made thereunder or dispense
with the observance of any such requirement in a class or classes of cases, if it is satisfied that compliance
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with such provisions or such requirement is or ought to be exempted or dispensed with in the
circumstances of the case.