NEW DELHI: The Government of India has said that no manual scavengers were identified in a fresh survey conducted across all districts of the country under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.
The information was shared by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale in a written reply to Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien in the Rajya Sabha.
The Government, however, said that 89,915 Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) have been validated across the country under the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme, launched in 2023-24 to improve the safety, dignity and welfare of sanitation workers.
Under NAMASTE, workers are being provided personal protective equipment, occupational safety training, health insurance coverage and safety equipment for Emergency Response Sanitation Units.
The scheme also provides upfront capital subsidies for sanitation machinery to sanitation workers, their groups and private sanitation service operators to encourage mechanised cleaning.
The Government said workshops are also being conducted to prevent hazardous manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks.
The Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0, launched in October 2021, has incorporated Used Water Management as a key component, with the objective of eliminating hazardous entry into sewers and septic tanks by promoting mechanised cleaning.
The Government reiterated that the 2013 Act prohibits the construction and maintenance of insanitary latrines and bans the employment or engagement of persons for hazardous manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks.
It has asked all States and Union Territories to ensure effective implementation of the law.
The latest survey finding marks a significant official claim in India's effort to eliminate manual scavenging.
At the same time, the validation of nearly 90,000 sewer and septic tank workers highlights the continuing need to strengthen mechanisation, protective equipment and occupational safety across the sanitation sector.
