Dy CM expresses disappontment over nearly 8,000 workers still being involved in manual scavenging
on Friday said it was against
's stature as a progressive state.
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Raising the issue of manual scavenging, BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar expressed concern for workers involved in it. "This is really a socially sensitive issue. Such an inhuman practice is still going on in the state. According to an audit of the central govt, a total of 18 workers died while cleaning septic tanks manually in the state from 2021 to 2024. We call Maharashtra a progressive state, but it is a blot on our state that the practice of manual scavenging is still going on here," Bhatkhalkar said in the assembly.
Earlier this month, two workers on contract died because of suffocation after they entered a sewage chamber to clean it manually in Sangamner town in Ahilyanagar district. In 2022, four workers lost their lives similarly in Pune's Wagholi area.
The BJP MLA also raised the issue of lack of safety gear of these workers and demanded that the state govt should give a plan of action to stop manual scavenging.
Replying to Bhatkhalkar's queries, cabinet minister for social justice Sanjay Shirsat admitted that the state had fallen short of achieving the goal of ending manual scavenging.
"It is indeed a serious issue. As per the Supreme Court's directive, the state calls for a report from every local body on scavenging, and many reports mention that manual scavenging is not practised in their jurisdiction. A recent survey revealed that over 7,500 workers are still involved in manual scavenging," Shirsat said.
Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, present for the discussion, expressed disappointment over the issue. He said, "On one hand, we are speaking about India aiming to become the third-largest economy in the world, but on the other, nearly 8,000 workers in our state are still carrying out manual scavenging. It is against Maharashtra's progressive stature. On behalf of the state govt, I assure you that we will plan a time-bound programme to end manual scavenging.
"
Shirsat told the assembly that the state had made a provision of Rs405 crore to purchase robotic machinery to replace manual scavenging work.
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