No Manual Scavengers Found in Latest Nationwide Survey
#GS-2 #Governance & Social Justice #Vulnerable Sections #GS-3 #Infrastructure #National
Why in News
- The Union Government informed the Rajya Sabha that a fresh nationwide survey found no manual scavengers across any Indian district.
About the Survey
- Officials conducted this nationwide study under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.
- The survey aimed to identify manual scavengers and evaluate steps taken for eliminating manual scavenging and supporting worker welfare.
Key Findings
- The new survey across all districts reported zero manual scavengers under the provisions of the MS Act, 2013.
- Government authorities have successfully verified 89,915 Sewer and Septic Tank Workers under the NAMASTE Scheme.
- Workers now receive Personal Protective Equipment kits, occupational safety training, safety devices for Emergency Response Sanitation Units, and modern cleaning machinery.
- The NAMASTE Scheme provides health insurance, capital subsidies for sanitation tools, and support to worker groups and Private Sanitation Service Operators.
- Under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0, the Used Water Management component actively promotes mechanized sewer cleaning to replace hazardous human entry.
Significance of Measures
- Mechanized cleaning reduces human contact with toxic waste, thereby improving worker safety and protecting human dignity.
- Targeted interventions deliver essential rehabilitation, workplace welfare, and complete social security coverage for sanitation workers.
- Upgraded sanitation systems help eliminate hazardous manual scavenging completely across all states and Union Territories.