Scavenging, manual-: India
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The extent of the sewer death problem
1993-2018
Ambika Pandit, July 10, 2019: The Times of India
Of the total 620 cases of sewer cleaning deaths in 15 states reported since 1993, the highest number of cases at 144 are from Tamil Nadu followed by 131 from Gujarat and 75 cases from Kar nataka.
In the 620 cases that have been identified so far, full compensation has been paid in 445 cases, partial payment has been made in 58 cases and 117 cases are pending, minister of state for ministry of social justice and empowerment Ramdas Athawale told the Lower House in a written reply to a question. The Supreme Court in 2014 directed states and Union Territories to identify all deaths of persons involved in cleaning of sewers and septic tanks that occurred since 1993. The court said a compensation of Rs 10 lakh must be paid to the family of the deceased.
The other 12 states and UTs that have reported cases of deaths include Uttar Pradesh (71), Haryana (51), Rajasthan (33), Punjab (30), Delhi (28), West Bengal (18), Uttarakahnd (9), Andhra Pradesh (8), Chhattisgarh and Chandigarh (4 each) and Telangana (2).
The minister said a total of 53,598 manual scavengers have been identified between December 2013 and June 2019. To a question on whether it is true that there has not been a single conviction in manual scavenging cases, he that “there have been no reports from any state or UT regarding conviction in such cases”.
The law authorises the DMs and other subordinate officers to ensure that no person is engaged as a manual scavenger and ensure investigation and prosecution of person contravening the provisions of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act 2013. State governments have been asked to furnish monthly progress reports in this regard.
