No Bill for Complete Mechanisation of Sewerage Cleaning, Says Minister

The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment announced there is no proposed bill for the full mechanisation of sewerage cleaning and the abolition of manual scavenging. Minister Ramdas Athawale clarified this while discussing the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) in the Lok Sabha.

The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment clarified on Tuesday that no bill has been proposed for the complete mechanisation of sewerage cleaning and the abolition of manual scavenging.

Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State Ramdas Athawale highlighted that a proposal to amend the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, was considered to institutionalize safe cleaning practices.

However, based on the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) initiative, developed jointly with the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, it was decided against amending the law at this time.