In a development that shows how rampant is the evil of manual scavenging in the country, Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry informed on Monday that 288 people have died in the country while cleaning sewers or septic tanks during the last three years.

As reported by The Hindu, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry Ramdas Athawale said in the Rajya Sabha today that a national survey carried out during 2018-19 in 194 districts of 18 States to identify the manual scavengers gave the figures.

The report quoted the Minister as replying to a question posed in Rajya Sabha, ""As per reports received from States, 288 persons have died while cleaning sewers or septic tanks during the last three years up to August 31, 2020."    

The survey found that out of more than 50,000 manual scavengers identified, around 25,000 were found in UP alone.