Lok Sabha Question No. 718 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-24
Subject: Model Contracting Framework under SBM-U
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Smt. Shambhavi, Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar, Shri Rajesh Verma, Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 718

TO BE ANSWERED ON JULY 24, 2025

## MODEL CONTRACTING FRAMEWORK UNDER SBM-U

NO. 718.  DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI RAJESH VERMA:

SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR:

SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE:

SMT. SHAMBHAVI:

Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has introduced a new Model Contracting Framework under the Swachh Bharat Mission - Urban (SBM-U) to improve sanitation service delivery;
- (b) if  so,  whether  this  framework  ensures  the  safety,  dignity  and welfare of sanitation workers and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  framework  encourages  participation  of Private Sanitation  Service  Operators  and  community-based  sanitation workers and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the estimated number of households relying on septic tanks and the importance of regular desludging in urban areas; and
- whether  the  Government  is  providing  support  to  Urban  Local Bodies for effective implementation of this framework and if so,

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE

MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)

(a) to (c) :  Swachh  Bharat  Mission-Urban  (SBM-U),  Ministry  of  Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), has issued Model Empanelment and Contract documents in June, 2025 to guide Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in engaging Private Sanitation Service Operators (PSSOs).

This  framework  aims  to  establish  clear  legal  and  operational guidelines for delivering safe, mechanized services in compliance with the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation (PEMSR) Act, 2013.

- (e) the details thereof?

The model contract document establishes the terms of services for sewer and septic tank cleaning services. It also defines the roles and responsibilities of city and private  operator, service level benchmarks, and cost of services to citizens. It further sets the terms for penalties, termination and blacklisting of private operators that violate the safety protocols causing risks to the health and safety of sanitation workers and failing to perform mechanized cleaning services under this contract.

Besides  ensuring  safety,  dignity  and  safe  mechanized  sewer  and septic  tank  cleaning  by  sanitation  workers,  these  model  documents encourage private entities such as cooperative societies, self-help groups (SHGs), Sani-entrepreneurs, or Micro-entrepreneurs etc. involved in sewer and septic tank cleaning services to register with cities.

- (d) : Out of an estimated 42 crore urban population in India, about 50% (4.5 crore households) use septic tanks. This indicates a critical need for regular desludging services to safely remove and dispose of faecal sludge at  designated  treatment  locations.  Around  35%  of  the  population  is connected  to  sewer  networks  that  require  regular  maintenance  for efficient wastewater flow to treatment plants. Both sewer systems and septic tanks need regular cleaning - sewer manholes must be cleared of blockages, and septic tanks must be desludged regularly.
- (e)  :  Financial  assistance  packages  are  available  for  SHGs  and  Sanientrepreneurs to procure mechanical equipment and setup businesses as mechanical cleaning service providers through National Safai Karamcharis Development Corporation (NSKFDC). In addition, the cities are also financially supported to procure adequate numbers of septic tank desludging equipment under Used Water Management (UWM) component of Swachh Bharat Mission- Urban 2.0.

*****