Lok Sabha Question No. 2740 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-05
Subject: Rehabilitation of Humans engaged in Manual Scavenging
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri T R Baalu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF'SOCIAL JUSTICE  AI\D EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED  QUESTTON  NO.2740 TO BE AI\SWERE,D ON 05.08.2025

## REHABILITATION  OF HUMAI\S ENGAGED  IN MANUAL SCAVENGING

?T4O.SHRITRBAALU:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AI\D EMPOWERMENT  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Govemment  is aware of the fact that manual scavenging  has been "eradicated mostly in name" and the workers still known as "safai  Karamcharis/Sanitation workers" and their glsly deaths while cleaning  sewers, due to lack of robust implementation of the 2013 Prohibition of Employment  as Manual Scavengers  and their Rehabilitation Act;
- (b) if so, the steps proposed  by the Government  to acknowledge  their rehabilitation  to live life with dignity  by enforcing the law firmly; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): As per provision of the "Prohibition of Employment as Manual  Scavengers  and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act, 2013)" manual scavenging is a banned activity in the country with effect ftom 6.12.2013.  No person or agency can engage  or employ  any person for manual scavenging  from the above date. Any person or agency  who engages any person for manual scavenging in violation of the provisions of the MS Act, 2013 is punishable  turder Section 8 of the above Act, with imprisonment upto 2 years or fine upto Rs. One Lakh or both.

No report of the practice of manual scavenging or of death occuring due to manual  scavenging has been received from StatesAJT.

Deaths have occurred in StatesAJTs due to hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks and non-observance  of safety precautions as prescribed under the "Prohibition of Employment  as Manual Scavengers  and their Rehabilitation  Act,2013  and MS Rules, 2013" as well as Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the Ministry  of Housing and Urban Affairs.

To tackle hazardous  cleaning of Sewer and Septic Tank, Department  of Social Justice and Empowerment in convergence  with Minisfiry of Housing  and Urban Affairs  has'launched the "National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem  (NAMASTE)"  Scheme in 2023'24 for implementation  in all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of the country. The objective is to ensure safety and dignity of Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) and empower them socially  and economically.

The scheme envisages  provision  of :-

- . Distribution of PPE Kits and Ayushman  Bharat-  Pradhan  Mantri Jan Arogya  Yojna  )ABPMJAY) cards and occupation  safety training to the sewer and septic tank workers.
- . Upfront Capital Subsidy for sanitation  related machinery to sanitation workers and their groups of maximum five  Persons'
- . Safety devices  to Emergency  Response Sanitation Units  (ERSUs)
- . Organising  Workshops  on prevention  of hazardous  cleaning  of sewer and septic  tanks.

In addition, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has also issued the following advisory for safe cleaning of sewer and septic tanks:-

- Standard  Operating  Procedures (SOP) for cleaning of Sewer  or Septic tank' l.
- Advisory for technical and managerial  interventions  for ensuring  safety during sewer and septic  tank cleaning  through Emergency  Response Sanitation  Unit (ERSU)' ii.
- Ready Reckoner for Urban Local Bodies for ensuring safety of sanitation  workers. iii.
- Organising Safaimitra  Straksha  Shivirs nationwide through  ULBs to provide  health checkups  and tinkage  to social welfare schemes. iv.

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