Manual Scavenging

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

Manual Scavenging

Posted On: 21 DEC 2022 5:26PM by PIB Delhi

The Government takes a serious cognizance of the deaths occurring due to hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks and non observance of safety precautions prescribed under the “Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Rules, 2013”.
State-wise details of persons who are reported to have died due to hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks during the last five years.

As per the “Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act, 2013)” manual scavenging is a prohibited activity in the country with effect from 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 under Section 8 of the above Act, with imprisonment upto 2 years or fine upto Rs. One Lakh or both.

There is no report of people currently engaged in manual scavenging in the country.

Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, since October 2, 2014, more than 11.06 crore sanitary toilets have been constructed in rural areas and over 62.79 lakh in urban areas and insanitary toilets have been converted into sanitary toilets. This work made a huge contribution towards ending the practice of manual scavenging.

This information was given by The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri. Ramdas Athawale in the Rajya Sabha in a written reply today.

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MG/DKP/MPW

Annexure

Annexure referred in reply to parts (a) & (b) of the  Rajya Sabha Unstarred  Question No. 1652 for 21.12.2022 regarding Manual Scavenging.

State-wise details of death of persons in sewers and septic tanks during the last five years.

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