332 sanitation workers died during hazardous sewer cleaning since 2021: Centre
New Delhi, July 21 (TNT): The Centre on Tuesday reiterated its commitment to the complete eradication of manual scavenging through strict enforcement of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, rehabilitation measures and promotion of mechanised sanitation systems.
Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, said the Act, which came into force on December 6, 2013, prohibits the employment or engagement of any person as a manual scavenger and prescribes stringent penalties for violations.
He said any individual or agency found employing a manual scavenger is liable to imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of up to ₹1 lakh, or both, under Section 8 of the Act.
The Minister informed the House that, according to the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK), 332 sanitation workers lost their lives while undertaking hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks in 18 States and Union Territories between January 1, 2021 and June 30, 2026.
He said 193 First Information Reports (FIRs) had been registered during the last five years by the concerned States and Union Territories against agencies and officials responsible for hazardous manual cleaning in accordance with the provisions of the law.
Athawale said no separate evaluation had been conducted on the implementation of mechanised sewer cleaning across States and Union Territories.
The House was also informed that recent surveys conducted across all districts had not reported any instance of manual scavenging, indicating the impact of legislative, administrative and rehabilitation measures undertaken by the Government to eliminate the practice.
The Minister said the Government would continue to strengthen measures for the safety, dignity and welfare of sanitation workers through strict enforcement of the law, wider adoption of mechanised sanitation technologies and comprehensive rehabilitation initiatives.
TNT TS
