Manual Scavenging in India Context: Tamil Nadu recorded 38 septic tank, sewer cleaning deaths, the third highest in India in the last five years, said Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment. About Manual Scavenging According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), manual scavenging means cleaning, carrying, disposing of, or handling human excreta manually. This includes: Cleaning dry latrines, Removing human waste from public streets, Cleaning and maintaining septic tanks, sewers, drains, and gutters. Steps Taken to End Manual Scavenging in India The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993 This was the first law to ban manual scavenging. It mainly focused on dry latrines. A manual scavenger was defined only as a person who manually carried human excreta. The Act did not provide proper rehabilitation for workers. The punishments were mild, so it was not very effective. The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation (PEMSR) Act, 2013 This law replaced the 1993 Act. It focused on protecting the dignity, rights, and rehabilitation of manual scavengers, not just cleanliness. It provided stronger legal protection and better support for affected workers. Safai Karamchari Andolan v. Union of India (2014) The Supreme Court stressed that manual scavengers must be properly rehabilitated. The Court said rehabilitation is necessary to stop both the current and future generations from entering this occupation. Main Features of the PEMSR Act, 2013 Completely bans manual scavenging. Expands the definition of manual scavengers to include people cleaning: Open drains, Pit latrines, Septic tanks, Manholes, Railway tracks with human waste Requires surveys in both rural and urban areas to identify manual scavengers. Orders the conversion of insanitary latrines into sanitary toilets. Makes it compulsory for employers to provide safety equipment and protective gear to sanitation workers. Focuses on rehabilitation by providing:…
