Even though manual scavenging and dry toilets were banned in Uttar Pradesh almost 19 years ago, manual scavenging persist in the state with problem almost epidemic in western Uttar Pradesh. A report released by the Panchayati Raj department of UP lists 18 districts with a high concentration of dry latrines. The central government had planned the eradication of manual scavenging by 2007. Dry latrines currently exist in four states: Bihar, J&K, UP and Uttarakhand.