Archive · 22 Aug 2025
696 Districts Declared Manual Scavenging-Free
Imagine people used to clean toilets and sewers by hand, which was very dangerous.
The government is working to stop this.
A minister announced that many areas are now 'manual scavenging-free,' meaning no one has to do that risky job anymore.
They're using machines instead!
The government wants all states to switch to machine cleaning and make sure no one gets hurt or dies while cleaning.
696 districts have been declared manual scavenging-free.
The Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, Dr. Virendra Kumar, announced the news.
The announcement was made during a Central Monitoring Committee meeting.
The Centre directed states to mechanize sewer and septic tank cleaning.
The goal is to prevent deaths during cleaning operations.
- Who
- Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar, and the Central Monitoring Committee.
- What
- 696 districts declared manual scavenging-free and states directed to mechanize cleaning.
- When
- Announced on Friday, August 22.
- Where
- New Delhi (announcement).
- Why
- To eliminate manual scavenging and prevent fatalities.
- Minister
- Dr. Virendra Kumar
- Number of Districts
- 696
- Focus
- Mechanized cleaning of sewers and septic tanks