Question : Sanitation Workers

(a)whether any data has been collected by the Government regarding the number of deaths of sanitation workers, particularly in the unorganised sector, while performing their duties;
(b)if so, the details thereof, State/ UT-wise including Bihar;
(c)whether any steps have been taken to improve the working conditions of the sanitation workers, including protection against toxic and harmful environment; and
(d)if so, the details thereof and the extent of success achieved therefrom, State/UT-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)
(a) & (b): The details of deaths in sewers and septic tanks and compensation paid, as available with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, is as under:

Sl. No. State Number of death cases identified/ reported Compensation paid
Full compensation of Rs. 10 lakh each Partial compensation
1 Tamil Nadu 144 141 0
2 Punjab 32 32 0
3 Karnataka 59 14 8
4 Haryana 5 3 0
5 Kerala 12 0 2
6 Rajasthan 7 3 2
7 Uttar Pradesh 52 1 35
8 Delhi 12 10 0
Total 323 204 47
Contd..2/-
:: 2 ::

(c) & (d): In order to improve the working conditions of the manual scavengers, including sanitation workers, and to provide for protection against toxic and harmful environment, the Ministry of Social justice and Empowerment is implementing the Prohibition Of Employment As Manual Scavengers And Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 and the rules thereunder. The 2013 Act and the rules not only prohibit manual scavenging, inter alia, also stipulate mandatory use of appropriate technological appliances for cleaning of sewers, septic tanks and other spaces and provide for their rehabilitation.

Rule 3 lays down that any person engaged to clean a sewer or a septic tank shall be provided by his employer, protective gear and safety devices including, but not limited to the following:

(i) Air compressor for blower
(ii) Air line breathing apparatus
(iii) Air line respirator with manually operated air blower
(iv) Air Purifier Gas mask/chin cortege
(v) Artificial respiration/Reticulate
(vi) Barrier caution tape
(vii) Barrier cream
(viii) Barrier cone
(ix) Blower
(x) Breath mask
(xi) Breathing Apparatus
(xii) Caution board
(xiii) Chlorine mask
(xiv) Emergency medical oxygen resuscitator Kit
(xv) First Aid Box
(xvi) Face Mask
(xvii) Gas Monitor (4 gases)
(xviii) Guide Pipe Set
(xix) Full body wader suit
(xx) Fishing wader suit attached with boots
(xxi) Hand gloves
(xxii) Head Lamp
(xxiii) Helmet
(xxiv) Helmet demolishing
(xxv) Lead acetate paper
(xxvi) Life guard pad
(xxvii) Modular Airlines Supply Trolley System
(xxviii) Normal face mask
(xxix) Nylon rope ladder 5 metres
(xxx) Nylon safety belt
Contd..3/-
:: 3 ::


(xxxi) Pocket book
(xxxii) Port oxy
(xxxiii) Raincoat
(xxxiv) Reflecting Jacket
(xxxv) Safety belt
(xxxvi) Safety body clothing
(xxxvii) Safety body harness
(xxxviii) Safety goggles
(xxxix) Safety Gumboots
(xl) Safety helmet
(xli) Safety showers
(xlii) Safety torch
(xliii) Safety Tripod Set
(xliv) Search light

Rule 5 makes it mandatory for the local authority to ensure that the cleaning devices are used by persons engaged in cleaning sewer or septic and Rule 6 lay down detailed safety precautions to be followed before a person is engaged in the cleaning of a sewer or a septic tank.

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