Manual scavenging persists despite laws, demanding mechanization and stronger enforcement
India continues to grapple with hazardous cleaning deaths, with 150 reported in 2022-2023, largely due to a business model that obscures liability. Despite the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers Act 2013, court orders, and the NAMASTE scheme, progress in mechanizing sewer cleaning and providing safety gear has been slow. There's a significant lack of PPE kits, health cards, and safety workshops for workers, and data on rural sanitation workers is scarce. The article emphasizes that enforcement is the core problem, with insufficient funding for mechanization and worker deaths often misclassified. It calls for urgent measures like complete mechanization, licensing of the trade, and extending support to vulnerable communities like Dalits and women.
Key Points
- Hazardous cleaning deaths persist in India, primarily due to manual scavenging and a business model that evades accountability.
- Despite existing legislation like the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers Act 2013 and the NAMASTE scheme, implementation and enforcement remain inadequate.
- There is a severe deficit in providing safety equipment, health cards, and training to sanitation workers, with limited data on rural workers.
- The NAMASTE scheme is underfunded, and government tenders often still solicit manual bids, undermining mechanization efforts.
- The article advocates for complete mechanization of sewer cleaning, making it a licensed and cognizable offence, and extending rehabilitation and support to affected communities, including Dalits and women.
Exam Facts
- 150 hazardous cleaning deaths reported in 2022 and 2023.
- The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act 2013 is in force.
- The National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme was launched in 2023.
- A 2024 Parliament reply stated 57,758 workers engaged in hazardous cleaning, but only 16,791 PPE kits supplied.
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