Executive Summary:
In response to a parliamentary question regarding the lack of safety gear for sanitation workers, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment outlines steps taken to ensure compliance with safety protocols. While sanitation is a state subject, the central government has launched the NAMASTE Scheme and issued advisories through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. States/UTs are requested to investigate sewer deaths and ensure adherence to the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers Act, 2013.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Lack of Safety Gear:** Audits in 2022 and 2023 revealed that a majority of sanitation workers, often engaged by private individuals in the unorganized sector, were not provided with appropriate protective gear.
* **State Subject:** Sanitation is a State subject under the Constitution of India.
* **MS Rules, 2013:** It is mandatory for employers to provide safety gear and ensure safety precautions, as prescribed in the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Rules, 2013.
* **NAMASTE Scheme:** The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, launched the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme in 2023-24 to ensure the safety and dignity of Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) and empower them socially and economically. It includes:
* PPE Kits, ABPMJAY cards, and occupational safety training for SSWs.
* Safety devices for Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs).
* Upfront Capital Subsidy for sanitation-related machinery for sanitation workers and groups of up to five persons.
* Workshops on prevention of hazardous cleaning of sewer and septic tanks.
* **Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Advisories:** The ministry has issued advisories for safe cleaning of sewers and septic tanks, including:
* Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for cleaning.
* Advisory for technical and managerial interventions via Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSU).
* Ready Reckoner for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to ensure sanitation worker safety.
* Organizing Safaimitra Suraksha Shivirs nationwide through ULBs for health checkups and linkage to social welfare schemes.
* **Action Against Violations:** State/UT Governments are requested to investigate sewer and septic tank death cases and ensure strict adherence to the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, initiating action against those responsible for hazardous cleaning violations.
Impact Analysis:
State/UT Governments:
* Impact: Responsible for investigating sewer and septic tank death cases, ensuring adherence to the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, and taking action against violators.
* Action Required: Investigate death cases and ensure compliance with the MS Act, 2013 and MS Rules, 2013.
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs):
* Impact: Responsible for implementing the NAMASTE scheme and advisories issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
* Action Required: Organize Safaimitra Suraksha Shivirs, implement SOPs, use the Ready Reckoner, and adopt technical/managerial interventions for safe cleaning.
Sanitation Workers:
* Impact: To be provided with safety gear, training, health checkups, and access to social welfare schemes. Eligible for subsidies for sanitation-related machinery.
* Action Required: Participate in training programs and utilize available resources and schemes.
Employers (including private individuals and unorganized sector entities):
* Impact: Mandated to provide safety gear and ensure safety precautions as per the MS Rules, 2013. Subject to penal action for violations.
* Action Required: Provide necessary safety equipment and adhere to safety protocols; avoid hazardous cleaning practices.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for the welfare and empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalized groups.
Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013: An Indian law that prohibits manual scavenging and provides for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers.
Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Rules, 2013: Rules framed under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 to provide detailed guidelines for the implementation of the Act.
National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE Scheme): A scheme launched by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment in convergence with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to ensure the safety and dignity of Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) and empower them socially and economically.
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs): Local governing bodies in urban areas responsible for providing basic services and infrastructure, including sanitation.
Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs): Units equipped with safety devices and trained personnel to respond to sanitation emergencies, such as sewer and septic tank cleaning.
ABPMJAY: Refers to Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, a health insurance scheme.
Shri Ramdas Athawale: Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4153
TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.08.2025
LACK OF SAFETY GEAR FOR SANITATION WORKERS
4153. DR. M P ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANTI:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that in over 90% of the sewer deaths audited in 2022 and 2023, workers
were not provided with any safety gear;
(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government to ensure strict compliance with safety protocols by
agencies engaging sanitation workers; and
(c) whether any penal action has been taken against the defaulting agencies, if so, the details
thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)
(a): Audit reported that majority of the sanitation workers were engaged by the private
individuals through unorganized sector without the availability of appropriate protective gears.
(b): Sanitation is a State Subject under VII" schedule of the Constitution of India.
As per “Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Rules, 2013
(MS Rules, 2013)” it is mandatory for the employer to provide the safety gear, devices and
ensure safety precautions as prescribed in the Rules.
Department of Social Justice and Empowerment in convergence with Ministry of Housing and
Urban Affairs has 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 empower them socially and economically.
The scheme envisages provision of :-
e PPE Kits, AB-PMJAY cards and occupation safety training to sewer and septic tank
workers.
e Safety devices to Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs)
¢ Upfront Capital Subsidy for sanitation related machinery to sanitation workers and their
groups of maximum five persons.
¢ Organising Workshops on prevention of hazardous cleaning of sewer and septic tanks.In addition, 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 of Sewer 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 linkage to social welfare schemes.
(c): State/UT Governments are requested to get the matter of sewer and septic tank death cases
investigated and ensure that provisions in the “Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers
and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 and “Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and
their Rehabilitation Rules, 2013 (MS Rules, 2013) are strictly adhered and action against the
persons responsible for engaging the persons for hazardous cleaning of sewer and septic tanks in
violation of section 7 of the MS Act, 2013 may be initiated.
HARKS