Strengthening the implementation of the Prohibition of Employment of Manual Scavengers (PEMSR) Act, 2013

The inhuman practice of manual scavenging continues in many parts of India till date despite the modernization of toilet systems and implementation of the Prohibition of Employment of Manual Scavengers (PEMSR) Act, 2013 across the country. In this regard, WaterAid India, with support from Centre of Equity Studies (CES) and Association for Rural and Urban Needy (ARUN), undertook a project titled ‘Strengthening rule of law for advancing the rights and freedoms of manual scavengers in India’, supported by the European Commission- European Instrument of Democracy and Human Rights.

As part of this project, an implementation review of the PEMSR Act, 2013 was conducted by CES to understand various challenges and bottlenecks in the implementation of various provisions under the PEMSR Act, and to suggest ways forward. Building on the problems and solutions that evolved from this study, we have developed a series of policy briefs focusing on the issues given.