Issue Overview:
- The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) expressed grave concern over the continuing deaths of sanitation workers in India, highlighting that 377 people died between 2019 and 2023 due to hazardous tasks like cleaning sewers and septic tanks.
- Despite existing legal provisions aimed at eradicating manual cleaning of sewage, these deaths remain a significant issue.
Relevance : GS 2( Social Justice)
NHRC’s Recommendations:
- Pilot Project: NHRC Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian (retired) called for the implementation of a pilot project in one state, utilizing technology such as robots for cleaning sewers and septic tanks, to assess its effectiveness and potential for broader application.
- Legislative and Executive Measures: Justice Ramasubramanian stressed that while manual scavenging is being addressed legislatively and judicially, there is a need to understand the root causes of worker deaths and suggest remedial measures.
Data on Sanitation Worker Deaths:
- Government data revealed that 377 sanitation workers died over the last five years, from 2019 to 2023, due to dangerous manual cleaning practices.
Societal Impact:
- The NHRC acknowledged that manual scavenging disproportionately affects certain castes and communities, marking it as a major societal challenge that requires collective efforts to resolve.
- The Commission emphasized the need to address manual scavenging through better implementation of mechanized cleaning processes across states.
Suggested Measures:
- Rehabilitation and Welfare: NHRC called for effective surveys to implement rehabilitation programs, ensuring that sanitation workers receive minimum wages.
- Transparency and Monitoring: The Commission stressed the importance of transparency in reporting data on manual scavenging and deaths caused by sewer cleaning, recommending the creation of a database for health insurance, education, and welfare of those involved in the practice.
- Awareness Campaigns: There was a call for more awareness campaigns under initiatives like Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and NAMASTE (National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem) to reduce manual scavenging.
Conclusion:
- The NHRC’s intervention underscores the need for technological solutions and better enforcement of laws to prevent the deaths of sanitation workers and to address the persistent issue of manual scavenging in India.
