(Asian independent) In just less than six months between two budgets of this year- Interim Budget before general elections on February 1, 2024 and Union Budget of the new innings of the Modi government on July 23, 2024, 43 sanitation workers have died in the country while cleaning the sewers and septic tanks. Despite this, neither manual scavenging, nor sewer deaths get even a single cursory mention in the Union Budget 2024.
Such deaths are not just the gross violation of human rights, they also violate the various Supreme Court orders on Prevention of Manual Scavenging. Besides, since each and every person involved in this work and henceforth dying in the pits belong to Dalit community, these deaths are also clearcut violation of Prevention of Atrocities Act, as well as they also tantamount to untouchability, which is illegal in India. But ironically, the Government of India is hardly concerned with any of these facts.
Deaths of Sanitation Workers in sewers and septic tanks is an ongoing human right crisis in India, but the government has been continuously in denial mode. Government has no system in place to track such deaths comprehensively. Every time there is any such incident, the first reaction from the government is to disguise it as an accidental death.
The apathy on part of the government towards deaths of safaikarmacharis is reflected by the fact that it does not even accepts the definition of ‘manual scavenger’ as mentioned in the Act passed by Parliament of India. Since, government simply denies the existence of practice of manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks, it blatantly refuses to recognise these deaths under the Act.This is in complete defiance of the Supreme Court judgment regarding compensation and other benefits to kin of the persons who die in sewers and septic tanks. Government needs to accept that these deaths are not just because of occupational hazards. These are a heinous crime against Dalit sanitation workers. Such deaths have to be prevented.
Many reports have emerged highlighting the tragic deaths of manual scavengers who continue to risk their lives while cleaning sewers and septic tanks. Despite numerous calls for reform and the implementation of laws aimed at eradicating this hazardous practice, the government’s negligence remains glaringly apparent.There is little evidence of substantive action taken to prevent such future occurrences. Furthermore, government has failed to regulate local authorities, which are continuously failing to provide necessary safety equipment or training for those involved in such cleaning for emergencies.The absence of robust policies reflects a broader societal indifference towards issues affecting marginalized communities in India.
It is important to hold the government accountable for its failure to protect lives of these Dalit sanitation workers. We demand from the government to recognizethese deaths and ask authorities not to tamper with any data or fact related to these deaths.
