Lok Sabha Question No. 1558 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-05
Subject: Sanitation Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL, SUSHMITA DEV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1558

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.03.2018

## SANITATION WORKERS

1558. SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL: KUMARI SUSHMITA DEV:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)whether  any  data  has  been  collected  by  the  Government  regarding  the number  of  deaths  of  sanitation  workers,  particularly  in  the  unorganised sector, while performing their duties;
- (b)if so, the details thereof, State/ UT-wise including Bihar;
- (c)whether any steps have been taken to improve the working conditions of the  sanitation  workers,  including  protection  against  toxic  and  harmful environment; and
- (d)if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  extent  of  success  achieved  therefrom, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a)  & (b): The details of deaths in sewers  and septic tanks and compensation  paid,  as  available  with  the  Ministry  of  Social  Justice  and Empowerment, is as under:

| Sl. No.   | State         | Number of                        | Compensation paid                     | Compensation paid    |
|-----------|---------------|----------------------------------|---------------------------------------|----------------------|
|           |               | death cases identified/ reported | Full compensation of Rs. 10 lakh each | Partial compensation |
| 1         | Tamil Nadu    | 144                              | 141                                   | 0                    |
| 2         | Punjab        | 32                               | 32                                    | 0                    |
| 3         | Karnataka     | 59                               | 14                                    | 8                    |
| 4         | Haryana       | 5                                | 3                                     | 0                    |
| 5         | Kerala        | 12                               | 0                                     | 2                    |
| 6         | Rajasthan     | 7                                | 3                                     | 2                    |
| 7         | Uttar Pradesh | 52                               | 1                                     | 35                   |
| 8         | Delhi         | 12                               | 10                                    | 0                    |
| Total     | Total         | 323                              | 204                                   | 47                   |

Contd..2/-

(c)  &  (d):  In  order  to  improve  the  working  conditions  of  the  manual scavengers,  including  sanitation  workers,  and  to  provide  for  protection against  toxic  and  harmful  environment,  the  Ministry  of  Social  justice  and Empowerment  is  implementing  the  Prohibition  Of  Employment  As  Manual Scavengers And Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 and the rules thereunder. The 2013 Act and the rules not only prohibit manual scavenging, inter alia, also stipulate mandatory use of appropriate technological appliances for cleaning of sewers, septic tanks and other spaces and provide for their rehabilitation.

Rule 3 lays down that any person engaged to clean a sewer or a septic  tank  shall  be  provided  by  his  employer,  protective  gear  and  safety devices including, but not limited to the following:

- (i) Air compressor for blower
- (ii) Air line breathing apparatus
- (iii) Air line respirator with manually operated air blower
- (iv) Air Purifier Gas mask/chin cortege
- (v) Artificial respiration/Reticulate
- (vi) Barrier caution tape
- (vii) Barrier cream
- (viii) Barrier cone
- (ix) Blower
- (x) Breath mask
- (xi) Breathing Apparatus
- (xii) Caution board
- (xiii) Chlorine mask

(xiv) Emergency medical oxygen resuscitator Kit

- (xv) First Aid Box

(xvi) Face Mask

(xvii) Gas Monitor (4 gases)

(xviii) Guide Pipe Set

(xix) Full body wader suit

(xx) Fishing wader suit attached with boots

(xxi) Hand gloves

(xxii) Head Lamp

(xxiii) Helmet

(xxiv) Helmet demolishing

(xxv) Lead acetate paper

(xxvi) Life guard pad

(xxvii) Modular Airlines Supply Trolley System

(xxviii) Normal face mask

(xxix) Nylon rope ladder 5 metres

(xxx) Nylon safety belt

(xxxi) Pocket book (xxxii) Port oxy (xxxiii) Raincoat (xxxiv) Reflecting Jacket (xxxv) Safety belt (xxxvi) Safety body clothing (xxxvii) Safety body harness (xxxviii) Safety goggles (xxxix) Safety Gumboots (xl) Safety helmet (xli) Safety showers (xlii) Safety torch (xliii) Safety Tripod Set (xliv) Search light

Rule 5 makes it mandatory for the local authority to ensure that the cleaning devices are used by persons engaged in cleaning sewer or septic and  Rule  6  lay  down  detailed  safety  precautions  to  be  followed  before  a person is engaged in the cleaning of a sewer or a septic tank.

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