What Happened
- The Central government informed the Lok Sabha that 622 deaths from hazardous sewer and septic tank cleaning have been reported since 2017, and that there is no evidence that mechanisation of sewer cleaning has increased operational efficiency.
- In 2025 alone, 842 complaints were registered regarding denial of wages, absence of protective gear, and caste-based discrimination against sewer cleaning workers.
- The Centre insisted that sewer and septic tank cleaning work is "occupation-based" — not "caste-based" — even as data shows that approximately 67% of the 54,574 profiled sewer workers under the NAMASTE scheme belong to Scheduled Castes.
- Despite the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 making manual scavenging a criminal offence, deaths in sewers continue at a significant rate.
- The government's admission that mechanisation has not demonstrably increased efficiency raises questions about the adequacy of the NAMASTE (National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem) scheme launched in 2022–23.
- Opposition members raised the continued practice of manual entry into sewers as evidence that the 2013 Act remains poorly enforced, and that the State's framing of the issue as "occupational" rather than "caste-based" deflects from its structural caste dimensions.
Static Topic Bridges
Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013
The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 was enacted by Parliament to abolish the dehumanising practice of manual cleaning of sewers, septic tanks, and dry latrines. It replaced the earlier Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993, which was widely considered ineffective.
- Manual scavenging is defined as manually cleaning, carrying, disposing, or otherwise handling human excreta from insanitary latrines, open drains, railways tracks, and septic tanks.
- The Act criminalises employment of manual scavengers: first offence — imprisonment up to 2 years and/or fine of Rs 2 lakh; subsequent offences — 5 years and/or Rs 5 lakh fine.
- Municipalities, local bodies, and individuals who employ manual scavengers are liable to prosecution.
- The Act mandates rehabilitation: one-time cash assistance, scholarships for children, subsidised residential plots, training in alternative livelihoods with a monthly stipend of Rs 3,000 during training.
- The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) monitors implementation.
Connection to this news: Despite the 2013 Act making manual scavenging a criminal offence, 622 deaths since 2017 and 842 complaints in 2025 indicate deeply inadequate enforcement — a direct indictment of the legislative framework's implementation gap.
NAMASTE Scheme — Mechanising Sanitation Work
The National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme was launched in 2022–23 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in convergence with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Its core objective is to eliminate human entry into sewers and septic tanks through complete mechanisation of hazardous cleaning operations.
- NAMASTE profiled 54,574 sewer and septic tank workers, of whom 67% belong to Scheduled Castes.
- The scheme provides: PPE kits, safety equipment, health insurance (ESIC coverage), and livelihood support through subsidised sanitation machinery (jetting machines, suction machines, robotic systems).
- It aims to convert sewer workers into machine operators and entrepreneurs through skill training.
- NAMASTE replaces the Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) while retaining the rehabilitation focus.
- Machines for sewer and septic tank cleaning remain unavailable or inaccessible in many smaller towns, limiting the scheme's reach.
Connection to this news: The Centre's own admission to Parliament that mechanisation has produced "no evidence of increased efficiency" exposes NAMASTE's limited on-ground penetration, particularly in smaller urban bodies where manual entry into sewers continues.
Caste and Sanitation Labour — A Structural Analysis
The practice of manual scavenging in India is structurally linked to caste. Historically, certain Scheduled Caste sub-communities — particularly Valmikis, Doms, and Bhangis — were assigned hereditary duties of cleaning human waste across Hindu caste hierarchies. This occupational heredity persisted into the post-Independence era despite constitutional prohibitions on untouchability.
- Article 17 of the Constitution abolishes untouchability absolutely — its practice in any form is forbidden.
- Article 46 (Directive Principle) directs the State to promote educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and protect them from social injustice and exploitation.
- The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 (formerly Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955) provides criminal penalties for enforcing untouchability.
- The SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 covers compelling a member of the SC/ST community to do manual scavenging as a scheduled atrocity.
- The Supreme Court in Safai Karamchari Andolan v. Union of India (2014) directed states to identify manual scavengers, rehabilitate them, and pay Rs 10 lakh compensation to families of those who died in sewer cleaning.
Connection to this news: The government's characterisation of sewer cleaning as "occupation-based not caste-based" directly contradicts the NAMASTE data showing 67% SC representation and deflects from Article 17 obligations and the SC/ST Atrocities Act's applicability to compelled sewer entry.
Parliamentary Accountability — Lok Sabha Questions and the Role of Parliament
Questions in Parliament — Starred (oral), Unstarred (written), Short Notice, and Questions to Private Members — are the primary instruments through which the legislature exercises oversight over the executive. The Lok Sabha session provides citizens' representatives with a platform to force the government to disclose data, justify policies, and acknowledge failures.
- Unstarred questions (written answers) are the most commonly used; the Centre's reply on sewer cleaning deaths was likely an Unstarred Question answer.
- The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is the nodal ministry for manual scavenging rehabilitation.
- Parliamentary Standing Committees — such as the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment — exercise deeper scrutiny between sessions.
- CAG has audited specific government schemes related to manual scavenging; its 2003 report flagged failures in the National Scheme for Liberation and Rehabilitation of Scavengers.
Connection to this news: The Centre's admission of 622 deaths and 842 complaints only came to public light through Lok Sabha questions — underscoring Parliament's indispensable accountability function in surfacing administrative failures.
Key Facts & Data
- 622 deaths from hazardous sewer/septic tank cleaning reported since 2017.
- 842 complaints in 2025 alone: non-payment of wages, no protective gear, caste discrimination.
- NAMASTE: 54,574 workers profiled; 67% belong to Scheduled Castes.
- Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers Act, 2013 — criminalises manual scavenging; penalties: 2 years/Rs 2 lakh (first offence), 5 years/Rs 5 lakh (subsequent).
- Safai Karamchari Andolan v. Union of India (2014): Rs 10 lakh compensation for families of sewer-cleaning deaths.
- Article 17: Abolition of untouchability — absolute prohibition.
- SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: Compelling SC/ST persons to do manual scavenging is a scheduled atrocity.
- Centre's position: Sewer cleaning is "occupation-based," not "caste-based."
- Government admission: No evidence of increased efficiency due to mechanisation.