Question : Manual Scavenging

(a) whether despite the law against manual scavenging, it continues to be practiced in various parts of the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof including the number of cases of death of manual scavengers while cleaning septic tanks and sewers reported during the last three years, State-wise;

(c) the details of cases filed, conviction achieved, action taken against the guilty persons, compensation paid and rehabilitation of manual scavengers during the said period, State-wise;

(d) whether there is an urgent need for mechanisation/technological intervention to end the misery of manual scavengers and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps being taken by the Government for total eradication of manual scavenging in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)

(a) to (c): Social Organizations working for manual scavengers have reported existence of manual scavengers in some areas. A National Survey has been undertaken in 170 identified districts of 18 States to identify all those persons who were cleaning the insanitary latrines which have been converted under different schemes or still engaged as manual scavengers in some areas. 25,015 manual scavengers have been identified under National Survey upto 30.11.2018.
There has been no report of death of manual scavengers. However there have been reports regarding death of persons while cleaning sewers/septic tanks. State-wise details of such cases and compensation paid to the family members of the victims as reported by the States/Union Territories are at Annexure-I. Details of first information reports filed against persons/agencies responsible are at Annexure-II.
(d): Under section 33 of the “Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act, 2013), every local authority and other agency is to ensure use appropriate technological appliances for cleaning of sewers, septic tanks and other spaces within their control with a view to eliminating the need for the manual handling of excreta in the process of their cleaning. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and State Governments have been requested to ensure mechanization of cleaning of sewers and septic tanks.
(e): Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs have informed that the sanitary individual household latrines constructed under the Swachh Bharat Mission consist of either an onsite treatment system or a connection to underground sewerage/septage system which would eliminate the need for manual scavenging.
The identified manual scavengers are provided the following rehabilitation benefits under “Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers” (SRMS) to liberate them from manual scavenging:

(i) Onetime cash assistance of Rs.40,000/- .
(ii) Skill Development Training with Stipend of Rs.3,000/- per month.
(iii) Capital subsidy upto Rs. 3,25,000/-to those who have availed bank loans for self employment projects.
The Number of beneficiaries who have been provided the above Rehabilitation benefits upto 30.11.2018 are as under:
(i) Onetime cash assistance to 24,853.
(ii) Skill Development Training to 13,587.
(iii) Capital Subsidy to 955.


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