Manual Scavenging | 28 Nov 2025

Source: TH 

Why in News?  

The Calcutta High Court ordered Rs 30 lakh compensation for each of the four sewer workers who died in a 2021 manual scavenging incident in Kolkata’s Kudghat area, condemning the authorities’ “serious negligence” and directing governments to raise outdated compensation norms fixed at Rs 10 lakh since 1993. 

What is Manual Scavenging? 

• About: According to the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation (PEMSR) Act, 2013, Manual Scavenging is the practice of manually cleaning, carrying, disposing, or handling human excreta from insanitary latrines, open drains, pits, railway tracks or any other notified space. 
• Legal Framework: It is officially banned in India since the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993. 
  • Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 bans employment of manual scavengers, ensures their rehabilitation, and makes every offence cognizable and non-bailable. 
  • The SCs and the STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 criminalizes the employment of Scheduled Castes in manual scavenging. 
  • Manual scavenging violates fundamental rights, particularly Article 17 (abolition of untouchability) and Article 21 (right to life with dignity). 
• Supreme Court (SC) Guidelines:  The Supreme Court in Dr. Balram Singh vs Union of India (2023) ordered for full mechanisation of sewer cleaning, and banned human entry except in rare cases with proper protective gear.  
  • It declared rehabilitation and prompt compensation for sewer deaths a constitutional right, asked states to link support with NAMASTE and social security schemes, and sought a central portal to track deaths and benefits. 
• Current Status ( as of 2024): Out of 766 districts, 732 have declared themselves manual scavenging-free, yet as of 2024, around 58,000 manual scavengers remain identified in India. 

What are the Major Challenges Faced by Manual Scavengers? 

• Intergenerational Entrapment: Manual scavenging is not only a job—it is a system that destroys physical capacity, confidence, and future opportunities, locking entire families into generational bondage. 
• Health Risks: Exposure to human waste and toxic gases like hydrogen sulphide makes manual scavengers highly vulnerable to diseases such as  Hepatitis, Tetanus, Cholera, and asphyxiation. 
• Social Stigma: Labeled as “untouchables,” they face deep-rooted caste-based discrimination, reinforcing social exclusion and systemic marginalization. 
  • The ILO notes that women manual scavengers face double discrimination (caste, gender), which creates a triple burden (caste, gender, and degrading occupation), trapping them in the most unsafe and stigmatised work and worsening their social and mental well-being that lead to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. 
• Economic Challenges: Paid below minimum wage and often employed on daily-wage or contractual terms, they lack job security, social protection, and alternative livelihood options, keeping them trapped in poverty. 
• Substance Abuse: Many resort to alcohol or drugs to cope with stress, humiliation, and physical hardship, further impacting their health and well-being. 
• Delayed or Denied Compensation: Compensation for sewer deaths is often delayed, disputed, or inconsistently disbursed. Many victims receive far less than the mandated amount or nothing at all.  
  • The issue is worsened by outdated norms like the Rs 10 lakh compensation fixed in 1993 has lost much of its real value, as highlighted by the Calcutta High Court. 
• Operational Challenge: Lack of training for manual scavengers in operating modern sewer-cleaning machines, leading to skill gaps, underuse or misuse of equipment, and workers being pushed back into unsafe manual cleaning.

What Measures can be Taken to End Manual Scavenging in India? 

• Shift to Full Mechanisation: Ensure 100% machine-based cleaning of sewers, septic tanks, drains, sludge, and waste through well-equipped Sanitation Response Units (SRUs) and trained operators. 
• Stronger Institutional Systems: Create a Responsible Sanitation Authority in every district, set up SRUs in all municipalities, and run 24x7 helplines for reporting blockages and emergencies. 
• Strict Legal Enforcement: Strictly enforce the PEMSR Act, 2013 by treating sewer deaths as culpable homicide, penalising violators, and ensuring timely compensation.  
  • Move beyond one-time payments by creating long-term pathways for dignity, secure livelihoods, and social mobility for affected families. 
• Regulation and Oversight: Maintain the legal distinction between sanitation workers and manual scavengers, regulate private de-sludging operators, and strengthen monitoring through NHRC recommendations. 
• Financial Support: Provide concessional loans under Swachhta Udyami Yojana for procuring mechanised cleaning equipment and widen Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) coverage for rehabilitation and enterprise support. 
  • Offer skill training under PM-DAKSH for waste management and machine operations, and prioritise employment in ULBs and relevant works under MGNREGA. 

Conclusion

Eliminating manual scavenging demands full mechanisation, strict enforcement, and dignified rehabilitation to end caste-based exploitation. Stronger institutions and safer working conditions will advance SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) and SDG 8 (decent work), helping India uphold dignity and equality for all.