Delhi Became the First State in India to Ban the Manual Scavenging

Delhi became the first state in India to ban the manual scavenging. The Chief Minister of Delhi on 26 February 2013 banned deployment of the cleaning staff for the purpose of manual sewer cleaning.

At the Swabhiman Diwas celebrations on 26 February 2013, the CM announced that the Delhi government was facilitating the amenities to the cleaning staff according to the service rules. The Delhi government was also taking initiatives for modernising the working mechanism for them and facilitating appropriate training to them.

In the meanwhile, it was also declared that all the civic bodies of Delhi would be asked to regularise services of the cleaning staff that was working for several years on contractual basis.

Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Bill, 2012

In January 2013, the Supreme Court of India had reproached the Union Government of India for not enacting the law that would lead to a ban on manual scavenging. The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Bill, 2012 is still pending in the Parliament.

As per this Bill, the district magistrate would be required to make sure that no one in their jurisdiction was engaged in manual scavenging. The Bill made it obligatory for the cantonment boards and municipalities along with the railway authorities to build adequate sanitary community bathrooms within 3 years after the Act comes into force.