Lok Sabha Question No. 3947 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-25
Subject: Social Security for Sanitation Workers
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Raja Ram Singh

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3947 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.03.2025

## SOCIAL SECURITY FOR SANITATION WORKERS

## 3947. SHRI RAJA RAM SINGH:

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

- (a) whether the Government proposes to conduct a survey on the current working conditions of sanitation workers in the country, if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the Ministry proposes to expand social security's benefits to sanitation workers who mostly belong to scheduled caste/tribe communities, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of minimum wages mandated State-wise; and
- (d) whether the Ministry proposes to increase wages for sanitation workers in the country, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has collected data for Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs), which is a subset of the sanitation workers.
- (b): Under the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme, the Ministry is providing health insurance under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (PMJAY) to Sewer and Septic Tank Worker and their family members.
- (c) & (d): Ministry of Labour and Employment has informed that the provisions of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 empower both the Central Government and the State Governments, as appropriate Governments, to fix, periodically review, and revise the minimum wages of employees employed in the Scheduled Employments which also includes "Employment of Sweeping and Cleaning". The minimum wage rates are determined and revised according to the specific needs and economic conditions of each region.

In order to take care of the rising prices, the Central Government revises the Variable Dearness Allowance (V.D.A) on basic rates of minimum wages every six months, effective from 1st April and 1st October of every year on the basis of Consumer Price Index for all scheduled employments in A, B and C areas. Latest V.D.A. as applicable from 01.10.2024 is at Annexure.

Annexure referred in reply to parts (c) and (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3947 for answer on 25.03.2025 regarding Social Security for Sanitation Workers.

## Area wise Rates of Minimum Wages for Scheduled Employment in the Central Share (As on 01.10.2024).

| S. No.   | Scheduled Employment   | Category of Workers   | Rate of Wages including V.D.A per day (In Rs.)   | Rate of Wages including V.D.A per day (In Rs.)   | Rate of Wages including V.D.A per day (In Rs.)   |
|----------|------------------------|-----------------------|--------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
|          |                        |                       | Area A                                           | Area B                                           | Area C                                           |
| 1        | Sweeping and Cleaning  | Unskilled             | 783                                              | 655                                              | 526                                              |

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