Relief Package for Family Members of Manual Scavengers

No death has been reported due to engaging in Manual Scavenging (which is lifting of human excreta from insanitary latrines as defined in Section 2(1) (g) of the Prohibition of Manual Scavenging Act,2013). However, persons have died due to accidents while undertaking hazardous cleaning of sewer and septic tanks.

In accordance with the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s Judgment dated 27.03.2014 in Civil Writ Petition No. 583 of 2003, compensation of Rs. 10 lakh each is paid by the State Governments to the families of those who have died while cleaning sewers/septic tanks from the year 1993 onwards. National Commission for Safai Karamcharis and Department of Social Justice have ensured such compensation payments. State wise details which include the state of Uttar Pradesh are given at Annexure.

As per the “Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act, 2013)” manual scavenging is a prohibited activity in the country with effect from 6.12.2013. No person or agency can engage or employ any person for manual scavenging from the above date. Any person or agency who engages any person for manual scavenging in violation of the provisions of the MS Act, 2013 is punishable under Section 8 of the above Act, with imprisonment upto 2 years or fine upto Rs. One Lakh or both.

Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, since October 2, 2014, more than 10.94 crore sanitary toilets have been constructed in rural areas and over 62.65 lakh in urban areas and insanitary toilets have been converted into sanitary toilets. This work made a huge contribution towards ending the practice of manual scavenging. After receiving reports from the social institutions working in this field, about continuation of this practice, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched a mobile app “Swachhata Abhiyaan” on 24.12.2020 to capture the data of insanitary latrines still existing and manual scavengers associated with them. Any person can upload the data of insanitary latrines and manual scavengers on the mobile app. Thereafter, the data is verified by the concerned district administration. However, not a single insanitary latrine has been confirmed so far.

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State wise details which include the state of Uttar Pradesh death of persons in sewers and septic tanks during the years 1993 to till date

This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Ramdas Athawale in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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