Question : Measures against Manual Scavenging under SBM

(a) whether the Government are aware that the socio-economic and caste census of 2011 had identified 1,80,657 households of manual scavengers across India, which is a prohibited practice under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act 2013;
(b) if so, the details of the number of manual scavenging labourers employed, district-wise in the country for the last three years, and the number of sewage lines they are to clean, each;
(c) whether the Government is taking/ planning to take measures against manual scavenging under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM); and
(d) the details of the gears/equipments being provided to manual scavenging labourers, State/UT-wise every year for the last three years?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION
(SHRI RAMESH CHANDAPPA JIGAJINAGI)

(a)to (d) Socio-economic and caste census of 2011 had identified 1,80,657 households of manual scavengers across India.However, the Government had launched Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) [(SBM(G)] with effect from 2nd October, 2014 with the aim to achieve universal sanitation coverage by 2nd October 2019 by providing access to sanitary toilet facilities to all rural households in the country. As per the SBM(G) guidelines, construction of ‘insanitary latrines’ as defined in ‘The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavenger and Rehabilitation Act, 2013’ at Para 2.(1) (e) is not permitted in the rural areas. Further, as per individual surveys undertaken by States, there has been 100% conversion of insanitary toilets in rural India. Hence, as per this information, issue of manual scavenging does not arise. Furthermore, under SBM(G), Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation promotes twin leach pit toilets that do not require manual handling of human feces and are cost effective and sustainable. Under this technology, human feces automatically becomes manure in 1-2 years and no sewage/drainage system or manual scavenging is required.