The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavenger and their Rehabilitation Act 2013, which has come into force w.e.f. 06.12.2013, bans manual scavenging and hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks. Further, Government has taken the following initiatives to avoid hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks:-

1. Under Swachhta Udyami Yojana of NSKFDC, concessional loans are provided to safai karamcharis, manual scavengers & their dependants and the Urban Local Bodies & other agencies responsible for cleaning for procurement of sanitation related instruments/vehicles for complete mechanization of all cleaning operations.
2. Under Central Sector Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) in addition to the manual scavengers, the sanitation workers and their dependants are also provided capital subsidy upto Rs. 5.00 lakh for procurement of instruments/vehicles for mechanized cleaning of sewers and septic tanks.
3. Workshops are organized in municipalities with the officers, engineers, contractors, sanitation workers etc. of urban local bodies to sensitize them about safe and healthy cleaning practices and mechanized cleaning of sewers & septic tanks. About 203 such workshops have been organized in the F.Y. 2022-23 in various urban local bodies (ULBs) pan India.
4. A short duration training programme (RPL) is organized for the sanitation workers wherein they are trained in mechanized cleaning, safe & healthy cleaning practices, safety precautions, use of PPE kits. Such training has been provided to about 26946 sanitation workers in F.Y. 2021-22 and 2022-23 PAN India.

To tackle hazardous cleaning specially, the Government has formulated a new scheme called ‘National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem’ (NAMASTE) whose objectives are as under:-

1. Formalization and Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (MS) and Persons Engaged in Hazardous Cleaning of Sewer and Septic Tank (SSWs).
2. Promotion of safe and mechanised cleaning of sewers and septic tanks through trained and certified sanitation workers.

NAMASTE aims to achieve the following outcomes:

1. Zero fatalities in sanitation work in India
2. All sanitation work to be performed by formalized skilled workers
3. No sanitation workers to come in direct contact with human faecal matter
4. Strengthening and capacitating Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs) to ensure safe delivery of mechanized sanitation services
5. Sanitation workers are collectivized into SHGs and are empowered to run sanitation enterprises
6. Sewer and Septic tank sanitation workers (SSWs) and their dependents also have access to livelihoods by providing capital subsidy for purchase of sanitation related equipments.
7. Increased awareness amongst sanitation services seekers (individuals and institutions) to seek services from registered Private Sanitation Service Organizations (PSSOs) and skilled & certified sanitation workers only.
8. Extending Health Insurance Scheme benefits under AB-PMJAY to SSWs & manual scavengers and their family members.
1. Occupational safety training to SSWs.

 The following rehabilitation benefits have been provided under Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS).

1. One-time Cash Assistance of Rs. 40,000/- per family has been provided to all identified and eligible 58098 manual scavengers.
2. Capital Subsidy upto Rs. 5,00,000/- has been provided to 2313 indentified manual scavengers and their dependents to take up alternate self employment projects.
3. Skill Development Training has been provided to 22294 indentified manual scavengers and their dependents with stipend @ Rs. 3,000/- per month during the training period. The successfully trained candidates are also provided Government recognized training certificates and assistance for sustainable employments.
4. Health Insurance under Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to the families of all the identified manual scavengers.

Two surveys have been conducted for identification of manual scavengers in the year 2013 and 2018. As per these two surveys, 58098 eligible manual scavengers have been identified.

This information was given by Minister of State for Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri  Ramdas Athawale in  a  written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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