Lok Sabha Question No. 1481 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-12
Subject: Deaths of Manual Scavengers
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: RAMACHANDRAN MULLAPPALLY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1481 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.02.2019

## DEATHS OF MANUAL SCA VENGERS

## 1481. SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware of the increasing incidents of death of workers engaged in sewer cleaning;

(c) whether compensation has been given to the families of the victims and action taken against the responsible persons/officials in such cases;

- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e the details of the measures taken by the Government to prevent such incidents?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)

(a) and (b): There has been no report regarding the increase of such incidents. However, StateMinistry from individuals and through press reportings are at Annexure-I.

(c): Such cases are referred to the concerned State Government for providing compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the family members of the victims in accordance with the directions of the and also to take action   against the persons/agencies   responsible in accordance with the provisions of "Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act; 2013" (MS Act; 2013). In addition States have also been asked to identify the cases of such deaths that have occurred since 1993 and ensure payment of compensation as per the Supreme Court verdict.

(d): Details of cases of sewerage related deaths identified by the States and compensation to the families of the victims are at Annexure-II. Details of first information report filed against persons/agencies responsible are at Annexure-III: paid

(e): Under Section 7 of ~Prohibition of   Employment as Manual   Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act; 2013" (MS Act, 2013) no person, local authority or any agency shall, from such date as the State Government may notify, which shall not be later than one year from the date of commencement of this Act; engage or employ, either directly or indirectly, any person for hazardous cleaning of a sewer or a tank: Under Section 9 of the MS Act, 2013 whoever contravenes the provisions of section 7 shall for the first contravention be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to two lakh rupees O with both, and for any subsequent contravention with imprisonment which may extend t0 five years or with which may extend to five lakh rupees; or with both' Government has also framed and notified "Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Rules, 2013" (MS Rules, 2013) which prescribe the obligation of the employers towards workers engaged for cleaning and sewer/septic tank to provide safety gear and devices and observe safety precautions as detailed in the Rules: septic fine

National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) in coordination with Skill Council Green Jobs organizes training of 35 hours duration on usage of mechanized sanitation equipment,  precautions for hazards  cleaning   life skills and income   generation activities to sanitation workers employed contractually or on ad hoc basis by municipalities.

NSKFDC also   organizes sensitization   workshops in   municipalities for   engineers,  sanitary inspectors, sanitary workers and contractors on safe cleaning of sewers and tanks and also create awareness about the provisions of the MS 2013 and MS Rules, 2013 regarding employer $ obligations to provide safety gear/equipment and ensure safety precautions: septic Act;

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has released Standard  Operating Procedure (SOP) for cleaning of sewers and tanks on 19.11.2018, which prescribes the procedure for cleaning; its frequency, equipment needed, protective and safety gear to be used, emergency preparedness, procedures to be followed for emergency during inspection and cleaning and also the roles and responsibility of various  stakeholders. SOP is advisory in nature to guide the States/Union Territories   (UTs) and Urban Local Bodies   (ULBs) in the  process of  cleaning sewers and emptying tanks in scientific ways: septic septic

## Annexure-[ referred in reply to Parts and (b) of Lok Sabha unstarred Question No. 1481 for answer on 12.02.2019 regarding death of manual scavengers:

Details of cases of death of persons in sewers/ Iseptic tanks which have come to the notice Department from individuals/through Press.

| SI No.   | State/UT       | District/Place                                                     | Year   | Number of cases   | Reported by                                               | Date of reporting   | Date of reference to the State Government   |
|----------|----------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|-------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|---------------------------------------------|
|          | Chandigarh     | Chandigarh                                                         | 2011   |                   | Chandigarh Dalit Welfare Association                      | March 2016          | 05.04.2016                                  |
|          | Chandigarh     | Chandigarh                                                         | 2012   |                   | ~do-                                                      | do-                 | ~do-                                        |
|          | Chandigarh     | Chandigarh                                                         | 2014   |                   | ~do-                                                      | ~do-                | ~do-                                        |
| 3        | Chandigarh     | Panchkula                                                          | 2015   | 3                 | ~do-                                                      | ~do-                | ~do-                                        |
| 4        | Total          |                                                                    |        | 6                 |                                                           |                     |                                             |
| 5        | Chhattisgarh   | Surajpur,Chhattisgarh                                              | 2017   | 4 Newspaper       |                                                           | 23.08.2017          | 12.09.2017                                  |
| 6        |                | District Jashpur                                                   | 2018   | 5                 | Newspaper                                                 | 16.09.2018          | 24.09.2018                                  |
|          |                | Total                                                              |        | 9                 |                                                           |                     |                                             |
|          | NCT Delhi      | Swaroop Nagar,_Delhi                                               | 2015   | 2                 | Newspaper                                                 | August,_2015        | 27.08.2015                                  |
| 8        | NCT Delhi      | Keshopur Delhi                                                     | 2015   | 1                 | Newspaper                                                 | 13.11.2015          | 17.11.2015                                  |
| 9        | NCT Delhi      |                                                                    | 2017   | 4                 | Newspaper                                                 | 15.07.2017          | 17.07.2017                                  |
|          | NCT Delhi      | Lajpat Nagar                                                       | 2017   | 3                 | Newspaper                                                 | 07.08.2017          |                                             |
| 11       | NCT Delhi      | Anand Vihar                                                        | 2017   | 2                 | Newspaper                                                 | 13.08.2017          | 24.08.2017                                  |
| 12       | NCT Delhi      | Loknayak Jaiprakash Hospital                                       | 2017   | 1                 | Newspaper                                                 | 21.08.2017          | 07.09.2017                                  |
| 13       |                | Mundka                                                             | 2017   | 2                 | Newspaper                                                 | 18.09.02017         | 05.10.2017                                  |
|          |                | Jhangiri Delhu puri,                                               | 2018   | 1                 | Newspaper                                                 | 21.10.2018          | 22.10.2018                                  |
|          | Total          |                                                                    |        | 16                |                                                           |                     |                                             |
| 14       | Haryana        | Dabwali,Sirsa                                                      | 2014   | 2                 | Newspaper                                                 | 26.05.2014          | 28.05.2014                                  |
| 15       |                | Hero Honda Chowk_Gurugram                                          | 2017   | 3                 | Newspaper                                                 |                     | 05.10.2017                                  |
| 16       |                | Palwal                                                             | 2018   | 2                 | Newspaper                                                 |                     | 08.02.2018                                  |
| 17       |                | Sewer Treatment Plant, MTS Surya Vihar Colony, Sector-9A, Gurugram | 2018   |                   | Safai Karamchari Andolan                                  | 18.05.2018          | 11.06.2018                                  |
|          | Total          |                                                                    |        | 8                 |                                                           |                     |                                             |
| 18       | Karnataka      | Jayamahal, Bengaluru                                               | 2015   | 2                 | Newspaper                                                 | August, 2015        | 24.08.2015                                  |
| 19       |                | ND Septal Apartment; Somasundarapalya in HSR layout                | 2018   | 5                 | Safai Karamchari Andolan                                  | January, 2018       | 08.02.2018                                  |
| 20       |                | Yumlok Restaurant at AECS Layout_ Marathahalli,                    | 2018   |                   | Safai Karamchari Andolan                                  | 13.02.2018          | 23.02.2018                                  |
|          | Total          |                                                                    |        |                   |                                                           |                     |                                             |
| 21       | Madhya Pradesh | Panna                                                              | 1993   | 1                 | Safai Karamchari Andolan                                  | 19.10.2015          | 28.10.2015                                  |
| 22       |                | Bhopal                                                             | 2008   | 2                 | Safai Karamchari Andolan                                  | 19.10.2015          | 28.10.2015                                  |
| 23       |                | Reeva                                                              | 2012   | 2                 | Safai Karamchari Andolan                                  | 19.10.2015          | 28.10.2015                                  |
| 24       |                | Shivpuri                                                           | 2014   | 2                 | Safai Karamchari Andolan                                  | 19.10.2015          | 28.10.2015                                  |
| 25       |                | Morena                                                             | 2014   | 2                 | Member , Madhya Pradesh State Safai Karamchari Commission | 19.06.2014          |                                             |

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| 26   |                | Bhopal                                                                      | 2015   |     | Safai Karamchari Andolan                             | 19.10.2015   | 28.10.2015   |
|------|----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|-----|------------------------------------------------------|--------------|--------------|
| 27   |                | Devas                                                                       | 2017   |     | Rashatriya Garima Abhiyan                            | 30.07.2017   | 07.09.2017   |
|      | Total          |                                                                             |        | 14  |                                                      |              |              |
| 28   | Maharashtra    |                                                                             | 2017   |     | Website of thequintcom                               | 31.10.2017   |              |
| 29   |                | Khambalpada_Dombivli MIDC                                                   | 2018   | 3   | Newspaper                                            | 26.10.2018   | 30.10.2018   |
|      | Total          |                                                                             |        | 4   |                                                      |              |              |
| 30   | Punjab         | Patti                                                                       | 2017   | 2   | Newspaper The Tribune)                               | 03.05.2017   | 09.05.2017   |
| 31   |                | Shimlapuri,_Ludhiana_                                                       | 2018   |     | Safai Karamchari Andolan                             | 13.03.2018   | 13.04.2018   |
| 32   |                | Firozepur                                                                   | 2018   | 2   | Newspaper                                            | 03.06.2018   | 12.06.2018   |
|      | Total          |                                                                             |        | 5   |                                                      |              |              |
| 33   | Rajasthan      | Pushkar                                                                     | 2015   | 3   | State Government,Rajasthan                           | 09.12.2015   | 22.12.2015   |
| 34   |                | Udaipur                                                                     | 2017   | 4   | Newspaper (Rajasthan Patrika;                        |              | 28.04.2017   |
|      | Total          |                                                                             |        |     |                                                      |              |              |
| 35   | Tamil Nadu     | Ramnad                                                                      | 2004   |     | Representation of victims mother                     | 20.07.2015   | 31.07.2015   |
| 36   |                | Okkiyam Pettai, Chennai                                                     | 2016   |     |                                                      | 20.01.2016   | 22.01.2016   |
| 37   |                | Chennai                                                                     | 2006   |     | Representation of victims mother                     | 21.04.2006   | 19.02.2018   |
| 38   |                | Kanchipuram; Chennai                                                        | 2018   | 5   | Safai Karamchari Andolan                             | 14.02.2018   | 14.03.2018   |
|      | Total          |                                                                             |        | 9   |                                                      |              |              |
| 39   | Telangana      | Rajendra Nagar_Hyderabad                                                    | 2014   | 2   | Website of Asian Human Rights Commission             | 06.6.2014    | 22.07.2014   |
| 40   |                | Madhapur_Hyderabad                                                          | 2016   | 4   | Newspaper                                            | 14.08.2016   | 23.08.2016   |
| 41   |                | SanathnagarHyederaabad                                                      | 2018   | 2   | Safai Karamchari Andolan                             | 18.12.2017   | 10.01.2018   |
|      | Total          |                                                                             |        | 8   |                                                      |              |              |
| 42   | Uttarakhand    | Haridwar                                                                    | 2010   | 2   | Representation of victims mother                     | 10.07.2015   | 16.07.2015   |
| 43   |                | Max Hospital, Dehradun                                                      | 2013   | 3   | Website of ibnlive.in.com Through Member_NCSK        | 20.05.2014   | 22.05.2014   |
|      | Total          |                                                                             |        | 5   |                                                      |              |              |
| 44   | Uttar Pradesh  | Noida                                                                       | 2014   | 2   | Website of indiatvnews com through Member; NCSK      | 24.02.2014   | 19.03.2014   |
| 45   |                | Lucknow                                                                     | 2014   |     | Representation   received from Sh. Ram Singh Balmiki | July, 2016   | 05.07.2016   |
| 46   |                | Goverdhan, Mathura                                                          | 2015   | 3   | Newspaper                                            | 18.12.2015   | 22.12.2015   |
| 47   |                | Allahabad                                                                   | 2015   |     | Newspaper                                            | 10.04.2015   | 01.05.2015   |
| 48   |                | Varanasi                                                                    | 2015   |     | Newspaper                                            | 18.04.2016   | 02.05.2016   |
| 49   |                | Sector 54, Noida                                                            | 2017   |     | Newspaper                                            | 15.04.2017   | 28.04.2017   |
| 50   |                |                                                                             | 2017   | 3   | Newspaper                                            | 21.09.2017   | 10.10.2017   |
| 51   |                | Loni, Ghaziabad                                                             | 2018   |     | Newspaper                                            | 11.07.2018   | 19.07.2018   |
|      | Total          |                                                                             |        | 15  |                                                      |              |              |
| 52   | Andhra Pradesh | Poultry Farm of Venkateswara Hatcheries  Limited  in Moram Chittor village, | 2018   |     | Newspaper                                            | 16.02.2018   | 19.02.2018   |
|      | Total          |                                                                             |        |     |                                                      |              |              |
|      | Grand total    |                                                                             |        | 120 |                                                      |              |              |

Annexure-II referred in reply to Part (d) of Lok Sabha unstarred Question No: 1481 for answer on 12.02.2019 regarding death of manual scavengers

Details of cases of death of persons in sewers/septic tanks reported by States upto 31.12.2018.

|    | State         | Number of cases identified/ reported   | Compensation pending   | Compensation paid                                                                        | Compensation paid    |
|----|---------------|----------------------------------------|------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|
|    |               |                                        |                        | Full Compensation of Rs.10 lakh each                                                     | Partial compensation |
|    | Tamil Nadu    | 144                                    | 5                      | 141                                                                                      |                      |
| 2  | Telangana     | 2                                      |                        | 2                                                                                        |                      |
| 3  | Punjab        |                                        | 0                      | 32                                                                                       |                      |
| 4  | Karnataka     | 62                                     | 38                     | 16                                                                                       | 8                    |
| 5  | Haryana       | 5                                      | 2                      |                                                                                          |                      |
| 6  | Kerala        |                                        | 10                     | 0                                                                                        |                      |
| 7  | Rajasthan     |                                        | 2                      | 3                                                                                        |                      |
|    | Uttar Pradesh |                                        | 22                     | 25                                                                                       |                      |
|    | Delhi         | 23                                     |                        | 19                                                                                       |                      |
| 10 | Gujarat       | 5                                      | 0                      | 4                                                                                        |                      |
|    | West Bengal   | 31                                     | 21                     | 10 (claims in 1 8 cases rejected by enquiry authority and enquiry in 3 cases is pending) | 0                    |
|    | Total         | 394                                    | 102                    | 255                                                                                      | 37                   |

Annexure-II referred in reply to Part (d) of Lok Sabha unstarred Question No 1481 for answer on 12.02.2019 regarding death of manual scavengers

| S.No:   | State     | No. of FIRs filed           |
|---------|-----------|-----------------------------|
|         | Karnataka | 28 FIRs involving 60 deaths |
| 2       | Rajasthan | FIR involving 3 deaths      |
| 3 _     | Delhi     | FIRs involving 13 deaths    |

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