Parliament Question: Persistence of Manual Scavenging

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTTON NO.1s21 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.07.2025 PERSISTENCE OF MANUAL SCAVENGING

1521. DR. M P ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI:

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

(a) whether the practice of manual scavenging continues in several parts of the country despite its statutory prohibition under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013;

(b) if so, the reasons for its persistence and the number of deaths reported during manual scavenging in the last five years, State-wise;

(c) whether the Government acknowledges the disproportionately high representation of Scheduled Castes, particularly Valmiki and related communities, among those engaged in manual scavenging; and

(d) the steps taken to break the caste-based occupational linkage and ensure dignified altemative livelihoods for affected communities? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)

(a) &. (b): As per the "Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act,20l3 (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 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.

No report of the practice of manual scavenging has been received from StatesAJT.

No death has been reported due to Manual Scavenging which is lifting of human excreta from Insanitary latrines.(c) & (d): Manual Scavenging work is an occupation based rather than caste based. Caste based data of identified Manual Scavengers has not been maintained.

Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) is subsumed in NAMASTE Scheme, it stipulates for provision of following to identified manual scavengers and

their dependents:- i.

Onetime Cash Assistance. ii.

Skill Development Training with stipend. iii.

Upfront Capital Subsidy for Self Employment Projects and purchasing Sanitation related Mechanised Equipments. iv.

Health Insurance cover under "Ayushman Bharat Prime Minister Jan Arogya Yojana". {.*rfrl.*