THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Underground Voices: Empowering the Backbone of Our Cities
Sewer Workers’ Workshop
On: 24th May 2025 (Saturday) Time: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Venue: 2nd Floor, Deputy Chairman Hall, Constitution Club of India, New Delhi
Zindabaad Saathiyon,
Jai Bhim & Hul Johar!
We are pleased to invite you to an essential workshop titled “Underground Voices: Empowering the Backbone of Our Cities”, which is dedicated to addressing the persistent challenges faced by sewer workers across Delhi-NCR. This event would bring together various stakeholders—including sewer workers, supervisors, union representatives, academicians, lawyers, and civil society members—with the primary objective of fostering dialogue on labour rights, workplace safety, and the systemic exploitation embedded in contract-based employment systems.
As we are aware that sewer workers are at the frontline of urban sanitation and public health. Despite performing the most hazardous and essential duties in our society, they remain invisible, underpaid, unprotected, and denied the dignity and rights they rightfully deserve. The majority of these workers come from historically marginalised underprivileged communities, likely Dalits, subjected to structural discrimination, exploitative labour practices, and routine neglect by employers and administrative bodies.
The workshop would serve as a platform to:
- Facilitate dialogue among sewer workers, supervisors, union leaders, legal experts, academicians, researchers, and civil society representatives.
- Critically examine the conditions of contract-based employment, the prevalence of manual scavenging despite legal prohibition, and the failure of enforcement mechanisms.
- Centre the voices of sewer workers by inviting testimonies and lived experiences of those affected by wage delays, lack of job security, absence of safety equipment, and arbitrary terminations.
- Discuss the deep socio-economic impacts on workers’ families, particularly about food insecurity, access to healthcare, education for children, and the emotional burden of unstable livelihoods.
- Chart out collaborative, action-oriented strategies to influence policy reforms, ensure dignified employment, and build mechanisms of accountability and justice.
The workshop would be held on 24th May, 2025, Saturday, from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Deputy Chairman Hall, Constitution Club of India, New Delhi.
We are honoured to be joined by a distinguished panel of speakers who bring a wealth of knowledge, legal expertise, grassroots experience, and institutional insight:
- Prof. (Dr) Vinod Kumar, Professor of Law and Director, Centre for Human Rights and Subaltern Studies, NLU Delhi
- Virendra Gaur, President, CITU, Delhi-NCR Committee
- Hemlata Kansotia, National Convenor, NCDRSAW
- Ved Prakash, President, Delhi Jal Board Sewer Department Mazdoor Sangathan
- Sushil Kumar Chandel, General Secretary, Delhi Jal Board Sewer Department Mazdoor Sangathan
- Dharmendra Bhati, President, Municipal Workers Lal Jhanda Union (CITU)
- Vijay Kumar Balguher, Vice President, Akhil Bhartiya Shramik Sangh (Delhi Pradesh)
- Ajay Hiteshi, Social Activist
- Azad Singh Dedha, President, All DJB Employees Welfare Association
- Sushil Kaim, General Secretary (East Delhi), Jal Mal Kaamgaar Sangharsh Morcha
- Seema Mathur, Professor, Delhi University
- Priya Darshani, Delhi Forum
- Aishwarya Kumar, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi
Your participation in this workshop would contribute meaningfully to strengthening the collective struggle for the dignity, safety, and rights of these workers, and your presence would greatly enrich the dialogue and strengthen ongoing efforts toward equitable and sustainable conditions for sewer workers and advocate for a better future.
For Further Information, Please Contact:
Ashok Kumar: +91 7065721374,
Email: [email protected]
Organised by: Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikar Manch (DASAM) |Municipal Workers Lal Jhanda Union (CITU) | Delhi Jal Board Sewer Department Mazdoor Sangathan | All DJB Employees Welfare Association | Jal Mal Kaamgaar Sangharsh Morcha | Delhi Jal Board Karamchari Union | Indian Sanitation Studies Collective (ISSC) | Akhil Bhartya Shramik Sangh (Delhi Pradesh) | Ambedkarwadi Lekhak Sangh (ALS) | Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre (PMARC) | Sewerage and Allied Workers Forum (SSKM) | Magadh Foundation | Wastepicker’s Welfare Foundation (WWF)
