Key highlights of Data Provided in Lok Sabha:
- The number of deaths of sanitation workers while cleaning septic tanks and sewers has risen, despite a ban on manual scavenging.
- 620 manual scavenging related deaths have been reported since 1993, of which 88 occurred in the past three years.
- Of the 15 States/UTs that submitted details to the Ministry, Tamil Nadu had the highest number of sewer deaths with 144 cases, followed by Gujarat with 131.
- Compensation had been given in 445 cases, partial settlement in 58 cases, while 117 cases were pending.
- While the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 lays down punishments for those who employ a person for manual scavenging, “there have been no reports from any state/Union Territory regarding conviction in such cases”.
- 53,598 manual scavengers had been identified from December 6, 2013 till June 30, 2019.
