941 Workers Died Cleaning Sewers, No Life Lost Due To Manual Scavenging: Centre

Union social justice minister Virendra Kumar told the Rajya Sabha that 58,098 manual scavengers were identified across the country in two separate surveys in 2013 and 2018.

People stand beside a whirlpool from an open manhole in floodwaters following rain in Kolkata on July 30, 2021. | AFP

Even after the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act was cleared, a total of 58,098 manual scavengers have been identified across the country in two separate surveys in 2013 and 2018.

No deaths were witnessed due to manual scavenging, but almost 941 workers have lost their lives while cleaning sewers or septic tanks since 1993. The data was shared by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

What’s the current status of manual scavengers?

“There is no report of death due to manual scavenging. However, we have reports regarding deaths of workers while being engaged in cleaning of sewers or septic tanks,” he said. The data shared by the minister mentioned 941 workers losing lives while cleaning sewers or septic tanks.

Among the states, Tamil Nadu reported the highest number with 213 deaths followed by 153 in Gujarat, 104 in Uttar Pradesh, 98 in Delhi, 84 in Karnataka, and 73 in Haryana, according to the data. Manual scavenging is not allowed under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.

Under the Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS), the minister stated one-time cash assistance of Rs 40,000 was deposited directly into the bank accounts of all the identified and eligible 58,098 manual scavengers.

Almost 16,057 manual scavengers and their dependents have been provided skill development training in various trades and 1,387 manual scavengers, sanitation workers and their dependents have been provided capital subsidy for self-employment projects, including sanitation-related projects