Vidhi Codex

Manual Scavengers (Prohibition) Act, 1993

The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993

Labour199324 sections5 chapters

The 1993 Act prohibits employing people to manually carry human excreta and bans building or maintaining dry latrines. It applies to individuals and companies in specific Indian states and territories, though any state can adopt it. This law matters because manual scavenging is a dehumanizing practice that violates individual dignity. By enforcing the switch to sanitary water-seal latrines, the Act protects public health and the environment. Additionally, it provides vital schemes for the rehabilitation and welfare of former scavengers to help them find gainful alternative employment, ensuring they are no longer forced into this harmful work.

Start reading →Read full ActSections

Chapter I PRELIMINARY →

  1. 1Short title, application and commencement.
  2. 2Definitions.

Chapter II PROHIBITION OF EMPLOYMENT OF MANUAL SCAVENGERS, ETC. →

  1. 3Prohibition of employment of manual scavengers, etc.
  2. 4Power to exempt.

Chapter III IMPLEMENTING AUTHORITIES AND SCHEMES →

  1. 5Appointment of Executive Authorities and their powers and functions.
  2. 6Power of State Government to make schemes.
  3. 7Power of State Government to issue directions.
  4. 8Executive Authorities, inspectors, officers and other employees of such authorities to be public servants.
  5. 9Appointment of inspectors and their powers of entry and inspection.
  6. 10Power of Executive Authority to prevent environmental pollution in certain cases.
  7. 11Duty of HUDCO to extend financial assistance in certain cases.
  8. 12Power to levy fee.
  9. 13Constitution of committees.

Chapter IV PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE →

  1. 14Penalty for contravention of the provisions of the Act and rules, orders, directions and schemes.
  2. 15Offences by companies.
  3. 16Offences to be cognizable.
  4. 17Provision in relation to jurisdiction.
  5. 18Limitation of prosecution.

Chapter V MISCELLANEOUS →

  1. 19Information, reports or returns.
  2. 20Protection of action taken in good faith.
  3. 21Effect of other laws and agreements inconsistent with the Act.
  4. 22Power of Central Government to make rules.
  5. 23Power of State Government to make rules.
  6. 24Power to remove difficulties.

PDF: pending for this language.