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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 443
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2026
ERADICATION OF MANUAL SCAVENGING
443. DR. D RAVI KUMAR:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the number of deaths reported while cleaning sewers and septic tanks during the last five
years, State-wise; .
(b) the number of cases registered against agencies or officials responsible for employing
persons in hazardous manual cleaning and the number of resolution for the grievance;
(c) whether the Government has evaluated the implementation of mechanised sewer cleaning
across States, if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the steps taken to ensure complete eradication of manual scavenging?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)
(a): As reported by the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK), State-wise
details of sanitation workers who lost their lives due to hazardous cleaning of sewer and
septic tanks from 01.01.2021 to 30.06.2026 is at Annexure.
(b): During last five years, 193 FIRs have been lodged in concerned States/UTs.
(c): No, Sir.
(d): As per the provisions of the “Prohibition 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 of the practice of manual scavenging has been received in the
recent survey conducted in all Districts.Annexure
Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 443
for answer on 21.07.2026 regarding 'Eradication of Manual Scavenging’.
State-wise details of sanitation workers who lost their lives due to hazardous cleaning of
sewer and septic tanks from 01.01.2021 to 30.06.2026 is as under:-
S. No. States/UTs Number of Death
1 Andhra Pradesh 5
2 Bihar 2
3 Dadra and Nagar Haveli 3
4 Delhi 29
5 Goa 1
6 Gujarat 27
7 Haryana 47
8 Jharkhand 1
9 Karnataka 12
10 Madhya Pradesh 13
11 Maharashtra 58
12 Odisha 2
13 Punjab 12
14 Rajasthan 23
15 Tamil Nadu 38
16 Telangana 9
17 Uttar Pradesh 37
18 West Bengal 13
Total 332
36 8 AR kK