Lok Sabha Question No. 736 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-25
Subject: Manual Scavengers
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: P. Ravindhranath, Feroze Varun Gandhi

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.736 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2023

MANUAL SCAVENGERS

736. SHRI P RA VINDHRANATH:

SHRI FEROZE VARUN GANDHI:

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

- (a) the details of persons engaged in manual scavenging in the country;
- (6) whether any case has been registered the employers of Manual Scavenging in the country and if SO, the details thereof; State-wise; against
- c) the   steps taken or taken  by the Government for allocation of  funds towards rehabilitation and   improvement in educational   and economic status of manual scavengers followed by the enactment of "Prohibition of Employment as Manual  Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act-2013" , during the last three financial years and the current year, State-wise; and being
- (d) whether any review has been conducted by the Union Government to ensure the utilization of such funds during the said period and if the details and outcomes thereof? SO,

## ANSWER

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

- (a): There is no report of people currently engaged in manual scavenging in the country.

Manual scavenging as defined under Section 2 (1) (g) of the "Prohibition of Employment as Manual   Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act; 2013)" is prohibited with effect from 6.12.2013. No person or agency can engage or employ any person for manual scavenging from that date.

- (b): No report has been received from the State/UT Governments about any case registered against the employers.
- (c): The following rehabilitation benefits have been provided under Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS)  -
- One-time Cash Assistance of Rs. 40,000/- per family has been provided to all identified and eligible 58098 manual scavengers
- C. Skill Development Training has been provided to 22294 identified manual scavengers and their dependents with  stipend Rs. 3,000/- per month during the training period, The successfully trained candidates are also provided Government recognized training certificates and assistance for sustainable employments
- b. Capital  Subsidy upto Rs.   5,00,000/ has been   provided to 2313  identified manual scavengers and their dependents to take up alternate self employment projects
- d\_ Health   Insurance  under Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana PMJA Y) to the families of all the identified manual scavengers. (AB-

SRMS is Central Sector scheme and there is no state-wise allocation of funds The details of Funds allocated for rehabilitation of manual scavengers during the last three years and current year under "National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem(NAMASTE) scheme are as under:-

(Rs. In Crore)

| Year    |   Funds allocated |
|---------|-------------------|
| 2020-21 |             30    |
|         |             43.31 |
| 2022-23 |             70    |
| 2023-24 |             97.41 |

(d): Evaluation study carried out in 2019-2020 regarding implementation of Self Employment Scheme for the Rehabilitation of Manual   Scavengers (SRMS) has reported successful implementation of the Scheme: