A recent government-commissioned social audit has revealed a grim reality: in over 90% of sewer-related deaths during 2022–23, workers lacked basic safety gear such as PPE and machines 

The audit, covering 54 deaths across eight states and Union Territories, found only one worker had received any safety training—even awareness of the risks was minimum. The majority of these workers were informally employed, leaving them without legal protections or access to justice or compensation for their families.

In response, the government launched the NAMASTE (National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem) scheme in July 2023 to tackle these dangers by distributing PPE kits, safety gear, and mechanized tools.

With over 84,000 workers identified, more than half have now received protective equipment under this program.

Despite the 2013 ban on manual scavenging, persistent deaths—376 reported between 2015 and 2019—highlight ongoing systemic challenges including caste-based discrimination and inadequate mechanization.

While NAMASTE marks progress, the audit underscores that without comprehensive training, enforcement, and expanded mechanized systems, sewer work remains overwhelmingly hazardous.