The Government of India has reaffirmed its commitment to the complete eradication of manual scavenging through strict enforcement of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act, 2013), rehabilitation of affected persons and promotion of mechanised sanitation systems. The Act, which came into force on 6 December 2013, prohibits the employment or engagement of any person as a manual scavenger and provides stringent penal provisions for violations.

This information was given today by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Ramdas Athawale in a written reply to Member of Parliament Dr D Ravi Kumar in Lok Sabha.

The House was informed that under Section 8 of the MS Act, 2013, any person or agency found employing or engaging a manual scavenger is liable for punishment with imprisonment for a term extending up to two years, a fine of up to ₹1 lakh, or both, reinforcing the Government's zero-tolerance approach towards the inhuman practice.

The written reply further stated that, as per information received from the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK), 332 sanitation workers lost their lives in 18 States and Union Territories, while undertaking hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks during the period from 1 January 2021 to 30 June 2026.

As per the written reply, 193 First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered during the last five years by the concerned States and Union Territories against agencies and officials responsible for hazardous manual cleaning, in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Replying to supplementary question, the House was informed that no separate evaluation has been undertaken regarding the implementation of mechanised sewer cleaning across States and Union Territories.

The House was also informed that recent surveys conducted across all districts have not reported any instance of the practice of manual scavenging, indicating the positive impact of sustained legislative, administrative and rehabilitation efforts undertaken by the Government to eliminate the practice.

The Government continues to strengthen measures for the safety, dignity and welfare of sanitation workers through strict enforcement of the law, promotion of mechanised sanitation technologies and comprehensive rehabilitation initiatives, reaffirming its commitment to achieving a manual scavenging-free India.

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PR-23-TAR/KV/GA