Why in news?
A social audit conducted by the Ministry of Social Justice in 2025 found that more than 90% of workers who died while cleaning sewers in 2022‑23 were not provided with protective gear. The findings sparked renewed outrage over the continuing practice of manual scavenging despite legal prohibitions.
What is manual scavenging?
Manual scavenging refers to the manual removal of human excreta from dry latrines, sewers or septic tanks. The practice is demeaning and hazardous. It is prohibited under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act 2013.
Disturbing trends
- At least 150 deaths from hazardous sewer cleaning were recorded in 2022‑23.
- In 49 out of 54 audited deaths, no safety equipment was provided to workers.
- In over half the cases there was no prior counselling or consent before workers entered sewers.
- Most workers were informally hired, allowing employers to evade legal safeguards.
Government initiatives
- NAMASTE scheme (2023): Aimed at mechanising sewer cleaning and rehabilitating sewer workers. Over 84,000 workers have been identified, though only about half have received personal protective equipment.
- Programmes under the Swachh Bharat Mission seek to upgrade sanitation infrastructure and eliminate manual cleaning of excreta.
Relevance for UPSC syllabus
- GS II (Governance and Social Justice): Examines welfare schemes for vulnerable sections and the disproportionate impact of manual scavenging on Dalit communities.
- GS III (Security and Disaster Management): Addresses occupational hazards, worker safety standards and institutional response mechanisms.
- GS IV (Ethics): Raises issues of dignity of labour, informed consent and government accountability.
Eradicating manual scavenging requires strict enforcement of the law, investment in mechanised cleaning and social support to rehabilitate workers. It is both a public health imperative and a moral obligation.