PIB Tracker332 sanitation-worker deaths in hazardous cleaning over five years — and a renewed pledge to end it
The government told Parliament that 332 sanitation workers died in 18 states/UTs from hazardous sewer and septic-tank cleaning between January 2021 and June 2026, with 193 FIRs filed — reaffirming its commitment to eradicate manual scavenging through the 2013 Act, rehabilitation and mechanised sanitation.
What happened
- The government told the Lok Sabha that 332 sanitation-worker deaths occurred in 18 states/UTs from hazardous sewer/septic-tank cleaning (Jan 2021-June 2026).
- 193 FIRs were registered in five years against agencies/officials for hazardous manual cleaning.
- The government reaffirmed its commitment to the complete eradication of manual scavenging.
- This is under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (in force 6 Dec 2013).
- Alongside enforcement and rehabilitation, mechanisation is pushed via the NAMASTE scheme (PPE, safety devices, health cover).
For Prelims
- MS Act, 2013: The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 — bans manual scavenging and hazardous cleaning, with penalties and rehabilitation.
- Manual scavenging vs hazardous cleaning: The Act bans manual handling of human excreta and hazardous entry into sewers/septic tanks without protective gear/safety devices.
- NAMASTE: National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (MoSJE + MoHUA) — profiles workers and provides PPE, safety devices, training and health cover to end hazardous cleaning.
- Enforcement: 193 FIRs in five years reflect action against violators; deaths continue despite the ban.
- Social justice: Sanitation workers are drawn largely from marginalised communities — a dignity and rights issue.
- Rehabilitation: The Act provides for identification, rehabilitation and alternative livelihoods for affected persons and families.
For UPSC: A hard-hitting social-justice item — deaths in hazardous sanitation work despite the ban, and the mechanisation push. Use it for the welfare and dignity of sanitation workers, the Manual Scavengers Act 2013 and its enforcement gap, NAMASTE and mechanisation, and caste and marginalisation.
What it is NOT: This is a data disclosure (a parliamentary written reply) with a policy reaffirmation, not a new law. It reports deaths from hazardous cleaning of sewers/septic tanks; the practice is already banned, and the focus is enforcement, rehabilitation and mechanisation.
For Mains
Syllabus: GS2.12 · GS1.6 · Linkage L2
Anchor
Dignity and safety over hazardous work — ending deaths in sewer/septic-tank cleaning.
Substantiation (data)
332 sanitation-worker deaths in 18 states/UTs (Jan 2021-June 2026); 193 FIRs in five years; the MS Act, 2013 bans manual scavenging/hazardous cleaning; mechanisation via NAMASTE (PPE, safety, health cover).
Exemplification
The 2013 Act's ban and penal provisions alongside NAMASTE's PPE/mechanisation to eliminate hazardous entry.
Problematisation
Deaths persist despite the ban — an enforcement and mechanisation gap, plus social stigma and accountability of employers.
Way-forward
Enforce the ban strictly, mechanise fully via NAMASTE, ensure rehabilitation/livelihoods, and hold violators accountable.
Position
Eliminating hazardous manual cleaning is a non-negotiable dignity, safety and social-justice imperative.
Deploys into: Schemes & society — welfare of vulnerable sections + Indian society (GS2.12, GS1.6) · the Manual Scavengers Act 2013, NAMASTE and mechanised sanitation, and the dignity/social-justice dimension.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment · 2026-07-21 · PRID 2287317 · PIB source ↗