332 Safai Karmachari Deaths in Hazardous Sewer Cleaning: Govt Reaffirms Commitment
UPSC / SSC current affairs note
Why in news
The government informed Lok Sabha that 332 safai karmacharis died between January 2021 and June 2026 in 18 states/UTs while cleaning sewers and septic tanks. It reiterated its resolve to eliminate manual scavenging through strict enforcement of the MS Act, 2013, rehabilitation, and mechanized cleaning.
Background
Manual scavenging has been legally prohibited in India since the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993, later replaced by the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act, 2013). Despite the ban, deaths continue due to hazardous manual cleaning.
Key facts
332 safai karmacharis died between 1 Jan 2021 and 30 Jun 2026 in 18 states/UTs due to hazardous sewer and septic tank cleaning.
193 FIRs were filed in the last five years against agencies/officials responsible for hazardous manual cleaning.
The MS Act, 2013 came into force on 6 December 2013, prohibiting employment of manual scavengers.
Violation of Section 8 of MS Act, 2013 attracts up to 2 years imprisonment, fine up to ₹1 lakh, or both.
No separate evaluation of mechanized sewer cleaning implementation has been done in states/UTs.
Recent district-level surveys reported zero cases of manual scavenging.
The National Commission for Safai Karmacharis (NCSK) provided the data on deaths.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to a manual-scavenging-free India through legislative, administrative, and rehabilitation measures.
Prelims pointers
- Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act, 2013)
- Section 8 of MS Act, 2013: penalty for employing manual scavengers
- National Commission for Safai Karmacharis (NCSK)
- Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
- Lok Sabha question by Dr. D. Ravi Kumar
- Date of enforcement: 6 December 2013
Mains angles
- GS2: Social Justice – issues of manual scavenging, dignity of labour, and government interventions
- GS2: Government Policies – effectiveness of MS Act, 2013 and rehabilitation schemes
- GS3: Labour Reforms – mechanization of sewer cleaning and occupational safety
- GS2: Statutory Bodies – role of NCSK in monitoring and reporting