Lok Sabha Question No. 2939 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-15
Subject: Manual Scavengers
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: GAURAV GOGOI

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2939. TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.03.2016

## 2939. MANUAL SCAVENGERS

## SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

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

(a) the total number of manual scavengers injured or died at their work site after enac the Prohibition of the Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2 during the last three years, State - wise; and

(b) the action taken/b ei g taken against the employers of such Manual Scavengers during the said period, State - wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FO R SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)

(a) and (b) No case of death or injury of manual scavengers while performing duty has c the notice of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. However, there have been in the news papers from time to time about death of persons while cleaning s ewer/septic tanks. In addition, the Safai Karmachari Andolan (SKA) has also reported a list of such cases. the  cases  which  have  come  to  the  notice  of  the  Ministry  of  Social  Justice  &  Empow through news paper reports and reported by SKA dur ing the last three years are given in th Annexure .  The  concerned  State  Governments  have  been  requested  to  have  these  ca investigated and take action in accordance with the provisions of the MS Act, 2013 and compensation to the family members of  the  victims  as  per  the  Supreme  Court's  verdict  dated 27.03.2014 in W.P. (Civil) No. 583 of 2003.

Under  Prohibition  of  the  Employment  as  Manual  Scavengers  and  their  Rehabilita Act, 2013 (MS Act, 2013) manual scavenging is prohibited with effect from 06.12.2013.  N o person, local authority or any agency shall, after the above date enga ge or employ either directly or  indirectly    as manual  scavengers  and  every  person  so  engaged  or  employed  shall  sta discharged immediately from any obligation expressed or implied, to do manual scavenging. The Act also prohibits employment of persons for hazardous cleaning of septic tanks and se Act  provides stringent  penalties  of  imprisonment  or  fine  or  both  for  violation  of mentioned provisions of the Act .

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Annexure referred in reply to Part (a) & (b) of  Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2939  for answer on 15.03.2016 regarding Manual Scavengers

Annexure

| Sl. No.   | State            | Cases of death of persons while cleaning septic (Number of Persons)   | Cases of death of persons while cleaning septic (Number of Persons)   | Cases of death of persons while cleaning septic (Number of Persons)   |
|-----------|------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|           |                  | Reported in the Press                                                 | Reported by Safai Karamchari Andolan (SKA)                            | Total                                                                 |
| 1.        | Bihar            | 0                                                                     | 3                                                                     | 3                                                                     |
| 2.        | Gujarat          | 3                                                                     | 0                                                                     | 3                                                                     |
| 3.        | Haryana          | 2                                                                     | 3                                                                     | 5                                                                     |
| 4.        | Karnataka        | 2                                                                     | 7                                                                     | 9                                                                     |
| 5.        | Madhya Pradesh   | 2                                                                     | 1                                                                     | 3                                                                     |
| 6.        | Maharashtra      | 0                                                                     | 16                                                                    | 16                                                                    |
| 7.        | NCT of Delhi     | 3                                                                     | 19                                                                    | 22                                                                    |
| 8.        | Odisha           | 0                                                                     | 3                                                                     | 3                                                                     |
| 9.        | Rajasthan        | 3                                                                     | 0                                                                     | 3                                                                     |
|           | 10.Tamil Nadu    | 4                                                                     | 42                                                                    | 46                                                                    |
|           | 11.Telangana     | 2                                                                     | 3                                                                     | 5                                                                     |
|           | 12.Uttar Pradesh | 5                                                                     | 18                                                                    | 23                                                                    |
|           | 13.Uttarakhand   | 3                                                                     | 9                                                                     | 12                                                                    |
|           | 14.West Bengal   | 0                                                                     | 19                                                                    | 19                                                                    |
|           | Total            | 29                                                                    | 143                                                                   | 172                                                                   |