On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, the Government informed the Rajya Sabha that no State or Union Territory has reported any cases of manual scavenging. Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale made the statement during the Monsoon Session, reiterating that the ministry has received no official data indicating its continuation across India.
To further examine the situation on the ground, the ministry commissioned a social audit in September 2023, focusing on the deaths of sanitation workers - particularly those involved in cleaning sewers and septic tanks. Though these tasks were previously categorized differently under legislation, they fall under the government's “hazardous cleaning” category.
Despite being explicitly banned under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, activists argue the practice persists, especially among marginalized communities. The audit aims to shed light on systemic gaps and verify adherence to safety norms.
As the ministry reassures compliance, human rights groups continue urging stricter monitoring and data transparency to ensure eradication of enforced sanitation labor.
