G.O. (Ms.) No. 83, Enhancement of compensation for deaths in sewerage or septic tank work
The Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MA2) Department issued G.O. (Ms.) No. 83 on 7 June 2022, increasing compensation for a death during sewerage or septic tank work from Rs.10 lakh to Rs.15 lakh from the date of issue. It also provides for a further increase of Rs.1.5 lakh once every three years and allocates payment responsibility among urban local bodies, private employers, contractors and principal employers.
What the government order changes
G.O. (Ms.) No. 83 of the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MA2) Department increases the compensation payable to the legal heirs of a person who dies during sewerage or septic tank work. The amount rises from Rs.10 lakh to Rs.15 lakh with effect from 7 June 2022, the date on which the government order was issued.
The compensation is also to increase by Rs.1.5 lakh once every three years thereafter. The Government accepted this arrangement after considering a proposal from the Director of Municipal Administration and the hazard and risk involved in the work.
Who may be affected
G.O. (Ms.) No. 83 directly concerns:
- Legal heirs of people who die during sewer or septic tank work.
- Urban local bodies that engage people for such work.
- Private persons, contractors or employers who engage people for such work.
- Local bodies or principal employers that may have to meet all or part of the compensation.
A property owner or other private person may be affected if they engage someone for sewer or septic tank work and that person dies while carrying it out. The payment responsibility depends on who engaged or employed the victim.
Who must pay
G.O. (Ms.) No. 83 sets out the following payment arrangements:
- If an urban local body engaged the victim, that urban local body must pay Rs.15 lakh to the legal heirs.
- If a private person, contractor or employer engaged the victim, that person, contractor or employer must pay the compensation.
- If the private employer cannot pay the entire amount, the concerned local body or principal employer must pay the balance from its own funds.
- If a local body or principal employer employed the victim, that local body or principal employer must pay from its own sources.
Background
G.O. (Ms.) No. 83 records the Government's commitment to implementing the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. It also refers to Supreme Court directions concerning compensation for sewerage work deaths and to Madras High Court proceedings that considered whether the earlier Rs.10 lakh amount should be increased because of rising living costs and prices.
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Common questions
How much compensation is payable for a death during sewer or septic tank work?
G.O. (Ms.) No. 83 sets the compensation at Rs.15 lakh from 7 June 2022. It also provides for an increase of Rs.1.5 lakh once every three years thereafter.
Who pays if a private property owner or contractor engaged the worker?
The private person, contractor or employer who engaged the victim must pay the compensation to the legal heirs. If that employer cannot pay the full amount, the concerned local body or principal employer must pay the balance from its own funds.
Who pays when an urban local body engaged the worker?
The urban local body must pay Rs.15 lakh to the legal heirs of the deceased.
From what date does the increased compensation apply?
The increase from Rs.10 lakh to Rs.15 lakh takes effect from 7 June 2022, the date G.O. (Ms.) No. 83 was issued.
