NHRC expresses concern over sanitation workers’ deaths despite laws prohibiting manual scavenging

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairperson Justice V Ramasubramanian expressed concern over the continued deaths of sanitation workers despite laws prohibiting manual cleaning of sewage and hazardous waste.

Advertisement

Addressing an open house discussion on ‘Dignity and Liberty of Individuals - Rights of Manual Scavengers’, Justice Ramasubramanian emphasised that manual scavenging is being tackled through legislation, executive management, and judicial supervision to eradicate it. However, he noted that the persistent deaths of sanitation workers are alarming, despite legal provisions aimed at eliminating manual cleaning of sewage and hazardous waste.

He stressed the need for a pilot project utilising technology and robots to clean sewer lines and septic tanks. This project would begin in one state and potentially be replicated in other parts of the country. NHRC secretary general Bharat Lal stated that the commission is monitoring the implementation of mechanised cleaning processes by various states.

Need for transparency in data

Participants at the open house discussion emphasised the need for “transparency in manual scavenging data and sewer death reporting, budget analysis, and awareness campaigns under SBM and NAMASTE schemes”.

According to the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis’ latest data, 1,289 sewer/septic tank death cases were reported in India between 1993 and December 31, 2024. The data is based on information from states, union territories, media reports, and complaints received by the commission.

Earlier, in November, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment informed the Parliament that 1,248 persons had died while cleaning sewer and septic tanks in India since 1993. Tamil Nadu reported the highest number of deaths (253), followed by Gujarat (183), Uttar Pradesh (133), and Delhi (116).

The number of deaths while cleaning septic tanks and sewers has been consistently reported: 76 in 2018, 133 in 2019, 35 in 2020, 66 in 2021, 84 in 2022, and 49 in 2023.

The crucial question remains: should even a single tragic death occur due to inadequate equipment and ineffective implementation of existing laws?

Tragic deaths

The tragic deaths of sanitation workers in India are a stark reminder of the country’s underlying social issues and lack of proper implementation of existing laws. In developed countries, when a sewer line gets clogged, a professionally trained sewer diver is sent in, equipped with proper protective gear and emergency standby. However, in India, it is mostly the poor and marginalised segments who risk their lives to unclog sewers and septic tanks without proper protective equipment.

According to the NHRC secretary general, certain castes and communities are disproportionately affected by this practice. The National Human Rights Commission has taken up the issue of implementing mechanised cleaning processes and has found that various states have prepared three-year programmes for urban local bodies in line with the Supreme Court guidelines issued in Dr Balram Singh v/s Union of India & Ors case, he said.

According to ministry officials, the government has taken serious note of the deaths occurring due to hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks, as well as the non-observance of safety precautions prescribed under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Rules, 2013. To address this issue, the government has launched projects offering loans and skilling opportunities, encouraging cities to adopt mechanised sanitation systems. For instance, “National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem” (NAMASTE) aims to stop deaths of sewer and septic tank workers (SSWs) by promoting mechanised cleaning and providing safety equipment.