New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday made an important announcement to end outlawed practice of cleaning manhole manually.

In the parliament, she announced to 100% mechanical de-sludging of septics tanks and sewers “to transition from manhole to machine hole mode,” said the Finance Minister.

Despite being declared illegal by law, the practice of manual scavenging is still prevalent in the nation leading to deaths of many sanitation workers due to the lack of safety equipment.

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The practice of cleaning sewer and septic tanks by hands, was declared illegal by the law under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.

Meanwhile, employing the manual scavengers was already outlawed in 1993 but later in 2013, the definition of the term was broadened. The new definition of manual scavanegers now includes people hired for cleaning septic tanks, ditches, or railway tracks.

However, even after 2013, it is common to find people being employed as sanitation worker to clean sewer and septic tanks by entering into them.

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All cities and towns will be enabled for 100% mechanical de-sludging of septics tanks & sewers to transition from manhole to machine hole mode: FM Nirmala Sitharaman pic.twitter.com/g4SKy2WYyR

— ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2023

“This is the first #Budget in Amrit Kaal.This Budget hopes to build on the foundation laid in the previous budgets and the blueprint drawn for India@100,” said the Finance Minister while presenting Budget in Lok Sabha.

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