Two-Thirds of Sewer Workers from Scheduled Caste Communities, Says Government

Two-thirds of sewer and septic tank workers (SSWs) in urban local bodies across the country belong to Scheduled Caste (SC) communities, according to a Union government survey shared in Parliament. The total proportion of workers from SC, Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) groups stands at 92%.

The survey covered 57,758 SSWs across 33 states and Union territories. The National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme, launched in 2023-24, aims to improve safety and dignity for sanitation workers with ₹13.96 crore ($1.68 million) in subsidies released for sanitation projects.