No Manual Scavengers Identified in Fresh Survey Conducted Under MS Act, 2013: Government

The Government of India, via the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, reported to the Rajya Sabha that a fresh survey conducted under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 found no manual scavengers across all districts. The National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme, launched in 2023‑24, has validated 89,915 sewer and septic‑tank workers (SSWs) nationwide. Under NAMASTE, the government is providing PPE kits, occupational‑safety training, safety devices for Emergency Response Sanitation Units, capital subsidies for sanitation machinery, health‑insurance coverage, and workshops on safe cleaning practices. The Swachh Bharat Mission‑Urban 2.0 (SBM‑U 2.0), launched on 1 October 2021, includes Used Water Management to eliminate hazardous manual entry into sewers and septic tanks. The government has urged all states and UTs to enforce the MS Act, 2013 fully.