Parliament Question: Privatization of sanitation services

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4050 ANSWERED ON 30/03/2026 PRIVATIZATION OF SANITATION SERVICES 4050. SHRI SANJAY SINGH: Will the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs be pleased to state: (a) whether Government is aware that several Urban Local Bodies, including Kanpur Nagar Nigam in the State of Uttar Pradesh, are handing over sanitation and solid waste management work to private agencies, resulting in widespread protests by sanitation workers; and (b) whether it is a fact that such privatisation is being carried out without ensuring regularisation, job security, EPF, ESI, minimum wages, and other statutory labour protections for sanitation workers and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI TOKHAN SAHU) (a) & (b) : Sanitation is a state subject. Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) supplements the efforts of States/UTs by providing policy directions, financial and technical support. State/ULBs are responsible for planning, designing, executing and operating sanitation projects including engagement of private agencies/workers in the urban areas of the country, including Kanpur Nagar Nigam in the State of Uttar Pradesh. Information regarding engagement of private agencies in sanitation and solid waste management work by the ULBs in the States/UTs is not maintained at Ministry Level. As reported by state of Uttar Pradesh, certain Urban Local Bodies including Kanpur Nagar Nigam, have engaged private agencies for sanitation and solid waste management. However, municipal bodies retain the primary responsibility for sanitation work, they assign work to private bodies to leverage expertise and resources, ensuring effective sanitation services. State of Uttar Pradesh has also informed that various benefits like EPF, ESI, minimum wages, and other statutory labour protections for sanitation workers are being provided to manpower employed through private agencies. *****