India’s approach to sanitation is undergoing a critical transformation. With stronger judicial directives, national mechanisation initiatives and growing awareness of sanitation workers’ rights, the focus is shifting from hazardous manual cleaning to safer, technology-enabled sanitation operations.
Supreme Court Directives on Manual Scavenging: How Bandicoot Supports Safer Sanitation
India’s approach to sanitation is undergoing a critical transformation. With stronger judicial directives, national mechanisation initiatives and growing awareness of sanitation workers’ rights, the focus is shifting from hazardous manual cleaning to safer, technology-enabled sanitation operations.
At the centre of this transition is the need to eliminate hazardous human entry into sewers and manholes, improve worker safety and equip Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) with effective mechanised cleaning solutions.
Bandicoot by Genrobotics is a robotic manhole-cleaning solution developed to reduce human exposure to hazardous sewer environments. By enabling remote-controlled cleaning operations, integrated monitoring and mechanised waste removal, Bandicoot supports India’s broader objective of making sanitation safer, more efficient and more dignified.
1. Supreme Court Directives on Manual Scavenging and Hazardous Sewer Cleaning
The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, establishes the legal framework for prohibiting manual scavenging and providing rehabilitation to affected individuals.
Separately, hazardous sewer and septic tank cleaning remains a serious occupational safety concern requiring strict adherence to applicable laws and safety procedures. In its proceedings in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 324 of 2020, the Supreme Court of India issued directions concerning the implementation of the 2013 Act, rehabilitation and compensation for sewer-related deaths.
The Court’s order of 20 October 2023 also directed an increase in compensation for sewer deaths to ₹30 lakh, as subsequently documented by the Government of India. These judicial directions reinforce the need for accountability, effective safeguards and systemic changes in sanitation practices.
For municipal authorities and sanitation service providers, the implications extend beyond legal compliance. They highlight the importance of reducing hazardous human entry, strengthening operational safety and investing in mechanised cleaning infrastructure.
How does robotics support this transition?
Robotic sanitation systems enable operators to carry out cleaning tasks remotely, reducing the need to place workers inside hazardous manholes during routine cleaning operations.
When combined with appropriate safety procedures, trained personnel and suitable equipment, mechanisation can help reduce occupational exposure and improve sanitation management.
2. National Sanitation Frameworks Driving Mechanisation in India
India’s national sanitation initiatives increasingly emphasise worker safety, mechanised operations and access to appropriate equipment.
NAMASTE Scheme: Promoting Safe and Mechanised Sanitation
The National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Launched in July 2023, the scheme seeks to improve the safety and dignity of sewer and septic tank workers through occupational safety training, access to protective equipment, mechanised sanitation practices and livelihood support. Its intended outcomes include preventing fatalities in sanitation work, reducing direct contact with human faecal matter and strengthening Emergency Response Sanitation Units.
Bandicoot aligns with these broader objectives by enabling mechanised manhole cleaning and reducing the need for direct human involvement in hazardous cleaning tasks.
Swachh Bharat Mission: Advancing Safer Urban Sanitation
The Swachh Bharat Mission has played an important role in improving sanitation infrastructure, cleanliness and waste management across India.
As cities modernise their sanitation systems, mechanised cleaning equipment can support more systematic maintenance of manholes and sewer networks. Robotic solutions can also help municipalities address operational challenges in densely populated urban areas where conventional cleaning methods expose workers to significant risks.
For Urban Local Bodies, adopting suitable mechanised equipment can form part of a wider strategy to improve sanitation service delivery, provided that procurement, deployment and operation follow the applicable programme requirements.
AMRUT: Strengthening Urban Infrastructure
The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) focuses on improving essential urban infrastructure and service delivery. Effective sewerage management and infrastructure maintenance are important considerations in building healthier, more resilient cities.
Mechanised sanitation technologies can contribute to these objectives by supporting safer maintenance practices and reducing dependence on hazardous manual interventions.
The eligibility of a particular robotic product or procurement proposal under an AMRUT-funded project must be assessed against the applicable guidelines, technical specifications and funding conditions.
Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs)
Emergency Response Sanitation Units support the safe delivery of mechanised sewer and septic tank cleaning services. Equipping these units with appropriate machinery, safety devices and trained operators can strengthen their ability to respond to blockages and other sanitation emergencies.
Robotic systems such as Bandicoot can be considered as part of a broader mechanisation strategy, subject to operational suitability, equipment requirements and the relevant procurement process.
3. Bandicoot by Genrobotics: Robotics for Safer Manhole Cleaning
Bandicoot is a robotic manhole-cleaning system developed by Genrobotics to address the hazards associated with conventional sewer-cleaning practices. Designed to perform cleaning operations remotely, the system helps operators remove accumulated waste from manholes without requiring routine physical entry into the manhole for the cleaning task.
Its approach combines robotic manipulation, visual monitoring and mechanised waste collection to support safer and more controlled sanitation operations.
Key capabilities of Bandicoot
Remote-controlled robotic cleaning: A robotic arm enables operators to manipulate and collect accumulated waste from outside the manhole, reducing the need for direct human entry during cleaning.
Visual monitoring: Integrated cameras provide visibility into the manhole environment, helping operators monitor the cleaning process.
Gas monitoring: Integrated gas-sensing capabilities support the monitoring of hazardous atmospheric conditions, subject to the sensors fitted to the particular model. Gas monitoring does not replace prescribed safety procedures or confined-space entry precautions.
Mechanised waste collection: The robotic system is designed to collect and remove accumulated waste mechanically, reducing the need for workers to handle hazardous sewage material directly.
Adaptable deployment: Different Bandicoot configurations, including compact and vehicle-integrated options, can support different operational requirements.
The appropriate configuration depends on site access, manhole conditions and the intended cleaning application. Together, these capabilities help municipalities move towards more mechanised sanitation operations while prioritising worker safety.
4. How Bandicoot Supports Safer Sanitation Operations
Bandicoot by Genrobotics supports safer sanitation operations by reducing the need for hazardous human entry into manholes during suitable cleaning tasks. Its camera-assisted monitoring system improves visibility inside manholes, while integrated gas sensors help monitor potentially hazardous atmospheric conditions. Mechanised waste collection reduces direct contact with sewage waste, and suitable compact configurations enable deployment in congested urban areas with limited access. By reducing workers’ exposure to hazardous environments and supporting the transition towards technology-assisted cleaning, Bandicoot contributes to safer working conditions and greater dignity for sanitation workers. Effective implementation, however, depends on selecting the appropriate equipment, providing operator training, conducting site assessments, maintaining the system and following applicable safety procedures.
The objective is not simply to clean manholes faster. It is to make hazardous sanitation work safer and less dependent on human exposure to dangerous environments.
5. From Sanitation Workers to Skilled Robotic Operators
Mechanisation must go hand in hand with the development of a skilled sanitation workforce.
The NAMASTE Scheme recognises the importance of occupational safety, skills development, livelihood support and the dignity of sewer and septic tank workers.
Robotic sanitation creates opportunities for workers to develop capabilities in equipment operation, remote monitoring, preventive maintenance and technology-assisted cleaning.
With suitable training and implementation support, sanitation workers can take on more specialised operational roles while reducing their exposure to hazardous cleaning environments.
For municipalities and sanitation service providers, this transition requires investment in training, equipment maintenance, standard operating procedures and appropriate working conditions.
Technology is most effective when it supports both safer operations and better livelihood opportunities for the people responsible for maintaining essential urban infrastructure.
6. Why Urban Local Bodies Should Consider Mechanised
Sewer Cleaning Urban Local Bodies are responsible for maintaining sanitation infrastructure while addressing operational constraints, worker safety and service delivery requirements.
Mechanised robotic cleaning can help municipalities strengthen their sanitation systems in several ways:
● Improved worker protection: Reduces the need for direct human entry during suitable cleaning operations.
● More controlled cleaning: Remote operation and visual monitoring support a structured approach to waste removal.
● Operational flexibility: Different robotic configurations can address varying site and access requirements.
● Support for emergency response: Suitable equipment can be integrated into mechanised sanitation response operations.
● Workforce development: Creates opportunities for trained personnel to operate and maintain advanced sanitation equipment.
● Modernisation of sanitation infrastructure: Supports the broader transition towards technology-enabled urban sanitation.
Before procurement, municipalities should assess equipment specifications, site compatibility, operator training requirements, maintenance arrangements, total cost of ownership and compliance with applicable tender conditions.
The adoption of robotics should form part of an integrated sanitation strategy rather than serve as a standalone replacement for safety systems, workforce training or regulatory oversight.
7. The Way Forward: Building a Zero-Hazard Sanitation Ecosystem
India’s sanitation goals require coordinated action from government authorities, municipalities, technology developers and sanitation service providers. Judicial directives establish the importance of accountability and rehabilitation.
National initiatives such as NAMASTE provide a framework for improving worker safety, mechanisation and livelihood opportunities. Robotic solutions can help translate these objectives into practical improvements in day-to-day sanitation operations.
Bandicoot by Genrobotics represents one such technology-driven approach, enabling remote-controlled manhole cleaning and supporting the wider movement towards safer sanitation practices.
As Indian cities continue to modernise their sewerage infrastructure, the focus must remain on reducing hazardous human exposure, strengthening operational safeguards and ensuring that sanitation workers are treated with dignity.
A safer sanitation system begins when hazardous work is redesigned around technology, trained people and responsible implementation.
Genrobotics continues to develop robotics solutions for challenging environments, with the broader objective of reducing human involvement in dangerous work and improving safety through technology.