**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment addressed questions regarding the deaths of manual scavenging workers, compensation to their families, audits of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, and the roadmap for eradicating manual scavenging. The response, given on 09.12.2025, clarifies that no deaths due to manual scavenging have been reported, and no audit has been conducted. However, the document highlights measures taken by the government to eliminate manual scavenging, focusing on mechanization and worker safety.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Data on Deaths and Compensation:**
* No deaths due to manual scavenging have been reported in the last ten years.
* Consequently, no compensation has been granted for such deaths.
* **Implementation of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act, 2013):**
* No audit or assessment has been conducted regarding the implementation of the MS Act, 2013.
* The Act stipulates the constitution of the Central Monitoring Committee, State Level Monitoring Committee, Vigilance Committee at District and Sub-Division Level, National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) to monitor the implementation of the Act.
* State Governments and Union Territories have been requested to implement the provisions of the Act.
* **Eradication of Manual Scavenging and Mechanization:**
* Manual scavenging is banned nationwide, effective since 6.12.2013, punishable under Section 8 of the MS Act, 2013, with imprisonment up to 2 years or a fine up to Rs. One Lakh, or both.
* The "National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE)” Scheme was launched in 2023-24 for implementation in all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to ensure the safety and dignity of Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs).
* The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban (SBM-U) 2.0, which includes Used Water Management (UWM), to eradicate hazardous entry into sewers and septic tanks.
* The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has also issued advisories for safe cleaning of sewer and septic tanks, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), technical and managerial interventions for Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSU), and a Ready Reckoner for ULBs.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Manual Scavenging Workers (Sewer and Septic Tank Workers)**
* **Impact:**
* The NAMASTE scheme and SBM-U 2.0 aim to improve their safety, dignity, and socio-economic status through mechanization and safety measures.
* **Action Required:**
* Engage with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits, Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) cards and occupation safety training programmes.
**Stakeholder: Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)**
* **Impact:**
* ULBs are responsible for implementing the NAMASTE scheme and SBM-U 2.0.
* They are expected to mechanize sewer and septic tank cleaning operations, improve worker safety, and conduct health checkups through Safaimitra Suraksha Shivirs.
* **Action Required:**
* Implement the provisions of the MS Act, 2013.
* Implement the advisories and SOPs issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
**Stakeholder: State Governments and Union Territories**
* **Impact:**
* Responsible for implementing the provisions of the MS Act, 2013.
* **Action Required:**
* Implement the provisions of the MS Act, 2013.
Key Entities Referenced
Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013: Key legislation prohibiting manual scavenging and mandating rehabilitation, critical for understanding the policy's legal framework.
National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK): Mandated to monitor the implementation of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.
National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme: Scheme launched to tackle hazardous cleaning of sewer and septic tanks by promoting mechanization and ensuring safety and dignity of sanitation workers.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: Primary ministry responsible for addressing issues related to manual scavenging and empowerment of sanitation workers.
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs): Key implementers of schemes and advisories aimed at safe cleaning of sewer and septic tanks.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE A}TD EMPOWERMENT
LOKSABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1513
TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2025
COMPENSATION FOR MANUAL SCAVENGING WORKERS
1513. SHRI DEEPENDER SINGH HOODA:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Govemment has data on the number of deaths of manual scavenging workers
if
during the last ten years and if so, the details thereof, year and Statefunion Territory-wise,
not, the reasons therefor;
if
(b) whether any compensation has been granted to the families of the deceased workers and
so, the details of such compensation, and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Govemment has conducted any audit or assessment regarding the
implementation of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their
Rehabilitation Act,2013 and ifso, the findings thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(d) the time-bound roadmap along with milestones prepared by the Govemment to completely
eradicate manual scavenging and hazardous cleaning and make sanitation work frrlly
mechanised?
AI{SWER
MINISTEROF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AIiD EMPOWERMENT
(sHRr RAMDAS ATHAWALE)
(a) & (b): No death has been reported due to Manual Scavenging.
(c): No, Sir.
Various provisions of "Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their
Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act, 2013)" stipulate for constitution of the following
Commissior/Committees for monitoring and effective implementation of the Act:-
i.
Cenhal Monitoring Committee, State Level Monitoring Committee and Vigilance
Committee at District and Sub-Division Level.
ii. National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) is mandated to monitor
implementation of various provisions of the MS Act, 2013.
iii. State Commission for Safai Karamcharis or State Commission for the Scheduled
Castes or such other statutory institution to perform the function of State Commission
for Safai Karamcharis.
iv. State Governments and Union Territories have been requested to implement the
provisions of the Act.(d): As per the provisions of the "kohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and
their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act, 2013)", manual scavenging is a banned activity in
the country with effect from 6.12.2013. No person or agency can engage or employ any
person for manual scavenging after 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.
No report ofthe practice ofmanual scavenging has been received from StatesAJT.
To tackle hazardous cleaning of Sewer and Septic Tanks, Departrnent of Social Justice and
Empowerment in convergence with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched the
'National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE)" Scheme in 2023-24
for implementation in all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of the country. The objective is to
ensure safety and dignity of Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) and to empower them
socially and economically. The aim is to achieve zerc fatality in sanitation work and to
ensure that no sanitation workers come in direct contact with human faecal matter.
The scheme envisages the provision of :-
.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits, Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan
Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) cards and occupation safety training to sewer and septic tank
workers.
.
Safety devices to Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs)
.
Upfront Capital Subsidy for sanitation related machinery to sanitation workers; their
groups ofmaximum five persons and Private Sanitation Service Operators (PSSOs).
.
Organising Workshops on prevention of hazardous cleaning of sewer and septic tanks.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched Swachh Bharat Mission - Urban
(SBM-U) 2.0 on lst, October, 2021. lt includes a new component i.e. Used Water
Management (UWM) with one of the objectives of eradication of hazardous entry irtto sewers
and septic tanks and sustaining elimination of manual cleaning, through mechanization of
sewer and septic tank cleaning operations.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has also issued the following advisory for safe
cleaning of sewer and septic tanks:-
i. Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for cleaning ofSewer or Septic tank.
ii. Advisory for technical and managerial interventions for ensuring safety during sewer
and septic tank cleaning through Emergency Response Sanitation Unit (ERSU).
iii. Ready Reckoner for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) for ensuring safety of sanitation
workers.
iv. Organising Safaimitra Suraksha Shivirs nationwide through ULBs to provide health
checkups and linkages to social welfare schemes.