Lok Sabha Question No. 1430 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-07
Subject: Cleaning Human Excreta
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Manickam Tagore B

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1430 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.12.2021

## CLEANING HUMAN EXCRETA

1430. SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that nearly 500 people died while cleaning human excreta the last five years; during
- the steps taken by the Government to stop this inhuman activity in the country;
- whether the Government is considering to make stricter laws prohibiting engagement of people for cleaning human excreta; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) (b): There is no report of death due to cleaning of human excreta (Manual Scavenging) However; there is a report of death of 321 persons due to hazardous cleaning of sewer and septic tanks during the last five years. Details are given at Annexure
- (c): The fatal accidents in sewers and tanks are due to non compliance of the prescribed safety measures and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) A National  Policy on Mechanised Sanitation Eco-system has been formulated and circulated to the States for implementation This policy, inter-alia, envisages appointment of Responsible Sanitation Authority in each district and a Sanitation Response Unit in each municipality, which shall be equipped with necessary machines, devices and vehicles for mechanised cleaning and professionally trained manpower to ensure safe cleaning of sewers and septic tanks septic fully

In addition, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has also taken the following steps to avoid hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks: -

- 1 Under Swachhta Udyami Yojana of National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation, concessional loans are provided to safai karamcharis, manual scavengers & their dependants and the Urban Local Bodies & other agencies responsible for cleaning, for procurement of sanitation related instruments/vehicles.
- iii: Workshops are organised in municipalities   with the  officers,  engineers,  contractors, sanitation  workers etc. of urban local bodies to sensitise them about safe and healthy cleaning practices and mechanised cleaning of sewers septic tanks
- ii. Under Central Sector Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS), in addition to the manual   scavengers, the sanitation workers and their dependants are  also provided capital  subsidy upto Rs 5.00 lakh  for procurement of instrumentslvehicles for mechanized cleaning of sewers and septic tanks
- iv. A short duration  training  programme (RPL) is oganised for the sanitation workers wherein are trained in safe and healthy mechanised cleaning practices. they

(d) & (e): Sir. No,

## Annexure referred in reply to parts (a) & (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1430 for answer on 07.12.2021 regarding Cleaning Human Excreta.

## Year-wise details of death of persons during the last five years, while cleaning sewers and septic tanks

|    | Years   |   Total Number of deaths |
|----|---------|--------------------------|
|    | 2017    |                       93 |
| 2  | 2018    |                       70 |
| 3  | 2019    |                      117 |
| 4  | 2020    |                       19 |
| 5  | 2021    |                       22 |
|    | Total   |                      321 |

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