Economic Survey: Manual Scavenging Persists Despite Legal Ban, Caste Stigma Deep-Rooted
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News18•29-01-2026, 19:30
Economic Survey: Manual Scavenging Persists Despite Legal Ban, Caste Stigma Deep-Rooted
- •The Economic Survey 2025-26 highlights the continued prevalence of manual scavenging, attributing it to deep-seated socio-cultural issues and caste-based stigma.
- •A majority of sewer and septic tank workers (SSWs) belong to specific marginalized castes, facing historical discrimination.
- •The survey emphasizes the need for society-wide educational and behavior change interventions to de-stigmatize these roles and calls for civil society participation.
- •It suggests holding urban local bodies (ULBs) accountable through performance-linked incentives and penalties for non-compliance in identifying and supporting SSWs.
- •Government initiatives like NAMASTE and distribution of PPE kits aim to mechanize sanitation and rehabilitate workers, with a focus on technology adoption and alternative employment.
Why It Matters: Manual scavenging persists due to caste stigma; Economic Survey urges societal change, ULB accountability, and tech adoption.
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