Increasing number of deaths of manual scavengers in India, ignorance of law even after Supreme Court order and serious problem of caste discrimination
New Delhi — The claim of the Government of India to eradicate manual scavenging seems far from the ground reality. Recently, a series of deaths while cleaning sewers and septic tanks in different parts of the country have once again raised the question — is it just administrative negligence, or a deep-rooted structural problem of caste injustice?
Tragic incidents in Delhi and Kolkata in early February
On February 2, two sanitation workers died near Mansa Devi Apartments in Narela, Delhi, while one was seriously injured. These workers were lowered into a toxic sewer by a private contractor without any safety equipment.
On the same day, three workers — Farzem Sheikh, Hashi Sheikh and Suman Sardar — lost their lives in the Bantala area of Kolkata when they were swept into a manhole due to a burst pipe. All these workers were residents of Murshidabad district of West Bengal and were employed by the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA).
Deaths continue despite Supreme Court order
The above incidents took place four days after the landmark judgment on January 29 in which the Supreme Court banned manual scavenging and hazardous sewer cleaning in the country’s major metropolises. This order was given by a bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Arvind Kumar.
A horrific series of deaths from March to May 2025
• Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu (May 19): Three Dalit labourers — Saravanan, Venugopal and Harikrishnan — died after inhaling toxic gas at Alaya Dyeing Mills. Another is hospitalised.
• Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh (April 3): Eight people lost their lives while cleaning a well ahead of the Gangaur festival.
• Faridabad, Haryana (May 21): A sanitation worker died while cleaning a septic tank, and the landlord who went to rescue him also lost his life. Police did not register an FIR.
• Ahmedabad, Gujarat (May 16): Three young workers died while cleaning the septic tank of a closed factory. There was no safety arrangement of any kind.
At least 20 sanitation workers have lost their lives across the country between February and May 2025.
Structural injustice and caste discrimination
According to data, 92% of India’s sanitation workers come from Scheduled Castes, Tribes and Backward Classes. Experts believe that these deaths are not just ‘accidents’ but are the result of systemic casteism and economic exploitation.
Demands of Dalit-Adivasi organization DASAM
Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikar Manch (DASAM) has reacted sharply to these incidents and has made the following demands from the government:
• Immediate registration of FIR in all incidents (under relevant sections of Manual Scavengers Act 2013, SC/ST Act, and BNS).
• Independent and time-bound judicial investigation of each case.
• Compensation of Rs 30 lakh to the families of the victims, along with full rehabilitation in housing, education, and livelihood.
• Formation of a central monitoring body to ensure compliance with the Supreme Court order.
• Cancellation of licenses of contractors engaged in such work.
• National audit of sanitation system and private contracts across the country.
The question is on the system, not on sympathy
DASAM says that this is not just a matter of pity or compassion, but a matter of constitutional duties, legal accountability and human dignity. Accepting the deaths of sanitation workers as normal is a blot on the face of a civilized society.
The organization said in a statement, “The lives of these workers are precious. Their deaths could have been prevented. And if we still remain silent, we will also be complicit in this injustice.”
Courtesy : Hindi News