Lok Sabha Question No. 3742 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-21
Subject: National Survey on Manual Scavenging
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: A. Chellakumar, Jayadev Galla

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3742 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.12.2021

## NATIONAL SURVEY ON MANUAL SCA VENGING

## 3742. DR A. CHELLAKUMAR: SHRI JAYADEV GALLA:

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

- a) whether the Government plans to undertake a survey to identifylcollect data on the exact number of manual scavengers in the country, if $O, the number of manual scavengers present in the country, State-wise;
- (6) the number of scavengers died while on the job due to asphyxiation in the country during the last three years;
3. whether Government has planned to make very stringent rule to end manual scavenging and the rehabilitation of manual scavengers; if so, the details thereof;
4. the list of safety/protective equipmentlgear provided to manual scavengers like mask etc;;
5. e the details of the schemes and their allocations for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers for the last three years; and
6. the number of persons penalized under the Act for flouting its provisions by engaging any person for manual scavenging?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): As per reports, no person is currently engaged in manual scavenging: However; two surveys have been conducted in 2013 and 2018 to identify manual scavengers   State-wise details of manual scavengers identified during these surveys is given at Annexure:

Ministry of Social Justice   and Empowerment has also launched a  mobile app "Swachhata Abhiyaan' on 24.12.2020 to capture the data of still existing insanitary latrines ad manual scavengers if any associated with them; person can upload the data of insanitary latrines and manual scavengers on the mobile app. Thereafter; the data is verified by the concerned district administration. However, not a single insanitary latrine has been confirmed so far: Any

- (): There have been no reports regarding death of persons due to manual scavenging: However; aS per reports received from States, 158 persons have died while cleaning sewers or tanks the last three years. septic
- (c): Under Section 5 of the MS Act, 2013 no agency or person can engage or employ any person for manual scavenging with effect from 06.12.2013. Whosoever violates the provisions of the Act is punishable with imprisonment upto two years or fine upto Rs.l lakh or both. The Ms 2013 also prohibits engagement of any person for hazardous cleaning of sewer O tank Whosoever engages any person for such hazardous cleaning in violation of the provisions of the Act is punishable with imprisonment upto 5 years o with fine of Rs. 5 lakhs o both. Act, septic

Government is implementing a Central Sector Self Employment Scheme for the Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers: -

- 1 One Time Cash Assistance of Rs.40,000/- to one identified manual scavenger in the family.
- iii. Capital  Subsidy upto Rs.5.00 lakh for those who availed loans for Self Employment Projects including sanitation related projects
- Skill Development Training of manual scavengers and their dependants upto two years with stipend Rs.3,000/- per month during the training period,
- iv. (ABPMJAY) to the families of all the identified manual scavengers.
- Loan   upto 15 a maximum  subsidy of Rs.5 lakh for procurement of mechanized equipment for cleaning of sewer and septic tanks
- (d): Government have notified 'Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Rules,2013 (MS Rules, 2013)*under which it is mandatory for the employer to provide the safety gear, devices and ensure safety precautions as prescribed in the Rules
- (e): Central Sector Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) is implemented  for rehabilitation of identified manual  scavengers, details of the scheme has already been indicated in the part (c) of the question. Total budget of Rs. 197.83 crore has been allocated under the Scheme during the last three years:
- (f): The cases filed in this regard are at different stages not came to logical conclusion. and

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Annexure referred in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3742 for answer on 21.12.2021 regarding National Survey on Manual Scavenging:

|    | Name of State/UT   | No: of Eligible Manual Scavengers identified   |
|----|--------------------|------------------------------------------------|
|    | (2) (3)            | (2) (3)                                        |
|    | Andhra Pradesh     | 1793                                           |
|    | Assam              | 3921                                           |
|    | Bihar              | 131                                            |
|    | Chhattisgarh       | 3                                              |
| 5  | Gujarat            | 105                                            |
|    | Jharkahand         | 192                                            |
|    | Karnataka          | 2927                                           |
| 8  | Kerala             | 518                                            |
| 9  | Madhya Pradesh     | 510                                            |
| 10 | Maharashtra        | 6325                                           |
| 11 | Odisha             | 230                                            |
| 12 | Punjab             | 231                                            |
| 13 | Rajasthan          | 2673                                           |
| 14 | Tamilnadu          | 398                                            |
| 15 | Uttar Pradesh      | 32473                                          |
| 16 | Uttarakhand        | 4988                                           |
| 17 | West Bengal        | 680                                            |
|    | Total              | 58098                                          |