**Policy Summary: Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013**
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 442, concerning the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act, 2013). The Act, enacted by Parliament, aims to abolish manual scavenging in India.
The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Ramdas Athawale, stated that while the provisions of the MS Act, 2013 are to be observed by all states, no reports of violations have been received. Manual scavenging is a banned activity since December 6, 2013, and engaging or employing individuals for this purpose is punishable under Section 8 of the Act, with penalties including imprisonment up to 2 years, a fine of up to Rs. One Lakh, or both. No reports of the practice have been received from States/UTs.
To further address the issue, the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban (SBMU) 2.0, launched on October 1, 2021, includes a Used Water Management (UWM) component. A key objective of UWM is to eradicate hazardous entry into sewers and septic tanks, eliminate manual scavenging, and promote mechanization of sewer and septic tank cleaning. Central funds are allocated to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) with populations less than 1 lakh for procuring septic tank desludging equipment.
Under the UWM component of SBMU 2.0, Rs. 358.26 crores have been approved for the procurement of 317 desludging vehicles, 1617 CESS pool tankers, and 517 other cleaning equipment. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for mechanical and manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks, along with training modules for sanitary workers.
Key Entities Referenced
Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013: A law enacted in India to abolish the practice of manual scavenging and rehabilitate manual scavengers.
Manual Scavenging: The practice of manually cleaning, carrying, disposing of, or otherwise handling human excreta.
SHRI ANIL YESHWANT DESAI: Member of LOK SABHA who raised a question regarding manual scavenging.
MINISTER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT: The government minister responsible for social justice and empowerment.
SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE: Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment who answered the question regarding manual scavenging.
Swachh Bharat Mission Urban SBMU 2.0: A government initiative focused on urban cleanliness, including the elimination of manual scavenging.
Used Water management UWM: A component of the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 focused on managing used water and eliminating hazardous entry into sewers.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs: The ministry responsible for housing and urban development, which issued SOPs for cleaning sewers and septic tanks.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
LOK SABHA
} UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.442
TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2025
PROHIBITION OF EMPLOYMENT AS MANUAL SCAVENGERS
442. SHRI ANIL YESHWANT DESAI:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that there is the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and
their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 in the country to abolish the practice of manual scavenging;
(b) whether these provisions are scrupulously observed by all the states;
(c) whether there are any violations by any States, if so, the details thereof:
(d) whether there is any spot in any state where removal of human waste by hands is still in
practice, if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the details of the modern techniques are being used in our country to collect and disposal of
human waste?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
. (SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)
(a): Parliament enacted the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their
Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act, 2013) to abolish the practice of manual scavenging in the
country.
(b): Provisions of the MS Act, 2013 are to be observed by States.
(c): No report of violation has been received from any State.
(d): As per the provision of “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 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 States/UT.(ce): Swachh Bharat Mission — Urban (SBM-U) 2.0 launched on Ist, October, 2021 includes
a component i.e. Used Water management (UWM) whose one of the objective is the eradication
of hazardous entry into sewers and septic tanks, and total elimination of manual scavenging and
promotion of mechanization of sewer and septic tank cleaning operations, for which Central
share funds for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) with population less than 1 lakh are released for
procuring adequate numbers of septic tank desludging equipments.
Under UWM component of SBM-U 2.0, central share funds of Rs. 358.26 crores have been
approved so far for procurement of 317 desluging vehicles, 1617 CESS pool tankers and 517
other cleaning equipments.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has issued SOP containing procedures to be followed
during mechanical and manual cleaning of sewers and emptying of septic tanks along with
training module for Sanitary workers on Cleaning of Sewers and Septic Tanks.
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