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Clean house: on India's septic tank desludging
Clean house: on India's septic tank desludging

The Hindu

time6 days ago

  • Politics
  • The Hindu

Clean house: on India's septic tank desludging

Behind the hazardous cleaning deaths of 150 people in 2022 and 2023, a social audit of 54 of which the Ministry of Social Justice has tabled in Parliament, lies a deleterious business model. Local contractors had hired 38; only five were on a government payroll. The rest were public sector workers 'loaned' to private employers, obscuring liability. Progress on this front has lagged despite the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act 2013, court orders, Swachh Bharat advisories, and the 2023 National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme. A 2024 Parliament reply said 57,758 workers were engaged in hazardous cleaning nationwide but only 16,791 PPE kits were supplied. Fewer than 14,000 had received health cards and only 837 safety workshops had been conducted in 4,800 urban local bodies. There are at least two bright spots, however. In Odisha, identified workers have PPE kits and access to mechanised desludging vehicles and Tamil Nadu has piloted sewer robots in Chennai to clean over 5,000 manholes. Technology and political will can thus deliver the desired results but little has reached most districts. Experts also flagged a near-complete lack of data on rural sanitation workers. India's real problem is enforcement. Industry members have said most underground infrastructure can be cleaned robotically if capital subsidies and operator training expand, yet government tenders often solicit manual bids. Most emergency response sanitation units are paper tigers. Only ₹14 crore has been released so far under the NAMASTE scheme, insufficient to mechanise sewer cleaning in even one major city. In the event of a worker death, police routinely book the lowest ranking supervisor or classify the death as an accident. The Supreme Court has asked for offending contracts to be cancelled and monetary liabilities imposed on principal employers, but local bodies are still to notify such rules. Two-thirds of validated workers are also Dalits, yet rehabilitation packages rarely include housing or scholarships that might help families exit contemptible occupations. Women who still sweep dry latrines receive even less policy attention. Among other measures, urban local bodies must mechanise sewer-cleaning post haste, and make it a licensed trade, and operating without a valid certificate a cognisable offence. Loans for workers to operate the machines that replace manual entry should be upscaled and linked to guaranteed service contracts from municipalities. Finally, the national government should include septic tank desludging under the Swachh Bharat rural budget and extend NAMASTE profiling to gram panchayats.

No reports of manual scavenging received from States, UTs: Govt
No reports of manual scavenging received from States, UTs: Govt

The Hindu

time22-07-2025

  • Health
  • The Hindu

No reports of manual scavenging received from States, UTs: Govt

No reports of manual scavenging have been received from any State or Union Territory (UT), Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said on Tuesday (July 22, 2025). Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Mr. Athawale said that the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, had banned manual scavenging with effect from December 6, 2013. Also read |The ugly truths of manual scavenging Despite long-standing concerns raised by activists and independent watchdogs over continued instances of manual scavenging-related deaths, Mr. Athawale said, "No report of the practice of manual scavenging has been received from States/UTs." However, in response to another question, Mr. Athawale said the Ministry had commissioned a social audit in September 2023 to study sanitation worker deaths. The audit examined 54 death cases that occurred in 2022 and 2023 across 17 districts in eight States, including four Districts of Maharashtra — Mumbai, Pune, Parbhani and Satara. The audit revealed that these deaths occurred due to hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks and the non-observance of safety procedures laid out under the 2013 Act and corresponding rules. The State and UT governments have been asked to investigate such deaths and take action under Section 7 of the Act against those responsible for engaging workers in prohibited activities. To address this, the Government launched the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme in 2023–24 in convergence with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The initiative aims at ensuring the safety and dignity of sewer and septic tank workers across all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and empowering them socially and economically. The scheme includes the provision of PPE kits, Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY health cards, occupational safety training, safety devices for Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs), capital subsidies for sanitation machinery and workshops to prevent hazardous cleaning practices. In a separate written response, Minister of State for Social Justice B.L. Verma said the government is working to expand access to de-addiction services by setting up District De-addiction Centres (DDACs) in 291 districts identified as having no government-supported centres under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR). An advertisement inviting proposals for setting up these centres has already been issued, Mr. Verma added.

No reports of manual scavenging received from states, UTs: Govt
No reports of manual scavenging received from states, UTs: Govt

News18

time22-07-2025

  • Health
  • News18

No reports of manual scavenging received from states, UTs: Govt

Last Updated: New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) No reports of manual scavenging have been received from any state or Union Territory (UT), Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said on Tuesday. Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Athawale said that the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, had banned manual scavenging with effect from December 6, 2013. Despite long-standing concerns raised by activists and independent watchdogs over continued instances of manual scavenging-related deaths, Athawale said, 'No report of the practice of manual scavenging has been received from States/UTs." However, in response to another question, Athawale said the ministry had commissioned a social audit in September 2023 to study sanitation worker deaths. The audit examined 54 death cases that occurred in 2022 and 2023 across 17 districts in eight states, including four districts of Maharashtra — Mumbai, Pune, Parbhani and Satara. The audit revealed that these deaths occurred due to hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks and the non-observance of safety procedures laid out under the 2013 Act and corresponding rules. The state and UT governments have been asked to investigate such deaths and take action under Section 7 of the Act against those responsible for engaging workers in prohibited activities. To address this, the government launched the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme in 2023–24 in convergence with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The initiative aims at ensuring the safety and dignity of sewer and septic tank workers across all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and empowering them socially and economically. The scheme includes the provision of PPE kits, Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY health cards, occupational safety training, safety devices for Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs), capital subsidies for sanitation machinery and workshops to prevent hazardous cleaning practices. In a separate written response, Minister of State for Social Justice B L Verma said the government is working to expand access to de-addiction services by setting up District De-addiction Centres (DDACs) in 291 districts identified as having no government-supported centres under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR). An advertisement inviting proposals for setting up these centres has already been issued, Verma added. PTI UZM UZM KSS KSS view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Passerby Jumps In To Save 3 Workers Trapped In Septic Tank, All 4 Killed
Passerby Jumps In To Save 3 Workers Trapped In Septic Tank, All 4 Killed

NDTV

time03-06-2025

  • Health
  • NDTV

Passerby Jumps In To Save 3 Workers Trapped In Septic Tank, All 4 Killed

New Delhi: Three workers and a passerby who jumped in to help them have died of suffocation after inhaling toxic gases in a septic tank in Odisha. The tragedy occurred when sanitation workers were removing the central slab of a newly constructed septic tank, measuring about 10×10 feet, at Padalguda village in Nandahandi block of Nabarangpur district on Tuesday. Local residents said two of the workers began to suffocate soon after they entered the septic tank. A third worker rushed in to try and rescue them, but he began asphyxiating too. Hearing their screams, a passerby jumped in to try and save them. Fire department personnel arrived after they were alerted and pulled all four people out of the tank. The three workers were declared dead on reaching the Nabarangpur District Headquarters Hospital while the passerby was admitted to the intensive care unit, but could not be saved. Local residents said the workers did not have safety equipment or oxygen support and entered the tank without any protection. A police official said, "We have begun an investigation. Forensic tests and the post-mortem reports will reveal the exact cause of the death and the nature of the gases they inhaled." The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment data, in a nationwide exercise, has identified 79,700 sewer and septic tank workers (SSWs), showing India's continued dependence on this form of hazardous manual labour. The exercise is part of the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) programme, which is aimed at mechanising all sewer-related works to prevent injuries and deaths. The NAMASTE programme was launched in 2023-24, replacing the Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers. In a written reply in Parliament in 2023, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale had said 453 people had died while cleaning sewers and septic tanks in five years, since 2018.

Centre's NAMASTE scheme nears 2 years; 91,000 sanitation workers identified
Centre's NAMASTE scheme nears 2 years; 91,000 sanitation workers identified

Hindustan Times

time31-05-2025

  • Hindustan Times

Centre's NAMASTE scheme nears 2 years; 91,000 sanitation workers identified

New Delhi: Approximately 80,000 sewer and septic tank workers (SSWs) and 11,000 waste pickers have been identified nationwide as the Centre's NAMASTE (National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem) scheme approaches its second anniversary in July, senior officials confirmed. A study group assessing the scheme's impact is expected to submit its report by December. 'We have formed a study group to assess the impact of NAMASTE, the surveying is going on in a mission mode. 80,000 SSWs have already been validated along with approx 11,000 waste pickers,' a senior official told Hindustan Times. The official described the process as 'laborious and large,' citing challenges like ensuring 'illegal immigrants engaged in such work especially waste picking are not included in the profiling and validation.' Internal Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment data reveals the nationwide validation drive has identified 79,700 SSWs, underscoring India's continued reliance on this hazardous manual labour. Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number (11,700), followed by Maharashtra (7,649), Tamil Nadu (6,975), and Karnataka (6,307). Other states with significant validated workers include Gujarat (5,436), Punjab (4,407), Andhra Pradesh (4,036), Delhi (3,626), Jammu & Kashmir (709), and Puducherry (243). The profiling, conducted under the NAMASTE programme, aims to mechanise all sewer work and prevent deaths from hazardous cleaning. Launched in 2023-24, NAMASTE replaced the Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS). The Union government asserts that manual scavenging as a practice has ended, distinguishing it technically from hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act. The ministry official also told HT that the ministry is in 'constant touch' with the Supreme Court and has made multiple attempts in explaining the difference between manual scavenging and sewer and septic tank cleaning. The Supreme Court in January this year had ordered a complete ban on manual scavenging and sewer cleaning in six major metropolitan cities -- Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. However, the ministry maintains that there is no manual scavenging practice (the act of picking and cleaning human excreta) and has asked the court to take a note of the same. Surveying faces multiple barriers. 'One of the biggest problems... is that several illegal immigrants are also engaged in the occupation with many of them also having fake aadhar cards and identities so its tough to profile and validate them,' the official noted. The ministry has incorporated verification questions about residency duration and permanent address. Other issues include low saturation of Ayushman Bharat health cards and mechanisation. While 45,871 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits and 354 safety device kits have been distributed, only 28,447 Ayushman cards have been issued, attributed to 'verification' problems. The ministry official stated the target is 'complete saturation' by the end of August. A December report by the Parliament's Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment also highlighted concerns. It noted NAMASTE's aims include 'zero fatalities in sanitation work in India,' ensuring 'all sanitation work is performed by formalized skilled workers,' and that 'no sanitation workers come in direct contact with human faecal matter.' However, the Committee found the Department 'lagging behind in this regard as several instances of death of unskilled sanitation workers due to negligence/ non-availability of safety equipments are reported every year in the press.' 'There is utmost need for capacity building of sanitation workers by enhancing their occupational skills,' the Committee had said. It had urged the Department to 'ensure that all the sanitation workers are adequately trained' and to 'conduct comprehensive campaign to increase awareness amongst sanitation service seekers to obtain services for cleaning of sewer septic tanks from trained SSWs.' The Committee also directed that 'minimum wages may be ensured for SSWs and the State/UT Governments may be suitably directed to ensure that SSWs get minimum wages prescribed.'

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