Govt. asks Commissioners of ULBs in Andhra Pradesh to ensure no person is engaged in manual scavenging

In exceptional cases, prior approval must be obtained from the Commissioner concerned and all prescribed safety equipment provided in accordance with the Act, the MA&UD Department says. File
| Photo Credit: S.S. KUMAR

Following the directions issued by the Andhra Pradesh High Court as part of its judgment on April 23, the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Department has asked the Commissioners of all the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to ensure the strict implementation of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.

The court had emphasised the need for timely payment of compensation and provision of full rehabilitation measures, including employment to the spouse, free education to children, and appropriate skill training to the kin of the deceased sewer workers.

Following the directions, the department had on June 6, 2025, directed the Commissioners of all the ULBs in the State to see to it that no person was engaged in manual scavenging and that all cleaning operations were fully mechanised. “Manual entry into sewers or septic tanks shall be strictly prohibited under all circumstances,” an official release said.

The release added that in exceptional cases, where manual intervention was unavoidable, prior approval must be obtained from the Commissioner concerned and all prescribed safety equipment must be provided in accordance with the PEMSR Act, 2013.

In the event of death in a sewer or septic tank, irrespective of whether the deceased was employed directly, indirectly, or through a contractor, an ex gratia of ₹30 lakh shall be mandatorily paid to the next of kin by the agency concerned, the release said.

The department also asked the Commissioners to ensure that FIRs were promptly registered against any individual, agency, or contractor under relevant sections, and set up a dedicated helpline or mechanism for reporting violations and grievances related to manual scavenging.

The Commissioners had been asked to create awareness among municipal staff, contractors, and the public on the legal prohibitions and penalties associated with manual scavenging, and the rights and rehabilitation measures available to the affected persons.

The 2013 Act deals with the provisions of sanitary latrines, identification of manual scavengers and their rehabilitation, responsibilities of local authorities for elimination of insanitary latrines, implementation mechanism, procedure for trial, vigilance committees and miscellaneous.