Centre to launch scheme aimed at preventing deaths due to manual scavenging this month

The Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry will launch a scheme this month aimed at introducing sustainable solutions to prevent deaths of workers while cleaning sewers and septic tanks, a senior official said on Tuesday. The scheme has already been formulated under the ministry's plan for mechanised cleaning of sewers and septic tanks to eliminate manual scavenging, he said.

According to official data, over 900 workers have died while cleaning sewers or septic tanks since 1993 but activists say the number is much higher as many are involved in manual scavenging.

The government does not identify deaths due to manual scavenging but calls them deaths due to hazardous cleaning of septic tanks and sewers.


Manual scavenging is banned under the Prohibition of Employment As Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.