Over 90% of Sewer Deaths Occurred Without Safety Gear

Why in the News?

A social audit commissioned by the Union Ministry of Social Justice revealed that over 90% of workers who died during sewer cleaning in 2022–23 were not provided any safety gear or PPE kits. These findings, made public in Parliament, highlight persistent violations of legal and humanitarian safeguards despite the government’s claim that manual scavenging has officially ended in India.

Background

• Manual Scavenging and Sewer Cleaning in India:
• Manual scavenging, the practice of manually cleaning, carrying, or disposing of human excreta, has been officially banned under:
• Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993.
• Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.

Hazardous Cleaning Defined:

• While manual scavenging is banned, hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks continues under informal, unsafe working conditions, often violating safety regulations.

Government Claims and Policy Responses:

• The government claims that manual scavenging is no longer practised, shifting the narrative to focus on hazardous cleaning.
• In July 2023, the NAMASTE Scheme (National Action Plan for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem) was launched to address issues faced by sanitation workers, particularly focusing on mechanisation, PPE, and rehabilitation.

Feature

Findings of the Social Audit (2022–2023):

Deaths Studied:

• 54 deaths across 17 districts in 8 States/UTs were audited.
• 150 total deaths due to hazardous cleaning during this period nationally.

Safety Violations:

• In 49 of 54 cases, no safety gear was provided.
• In only 1 case, both gloves and gumboots were available.
• Only 2 cases had mechanised equipment.
• Training was given in just 1 case.

Employment and Consent:

• In 27 cases, no consent was taken from the workers.
• In 18 cases with written consent, there was no counselling on occupational risks.
• The majority of workers were individually contracted (38 cases); only 5 were government-employed.

Awareness Drives:

• Only 7 of the 54 cases triggered even partial awareness drives, limited to districts in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

Institutional Readiness:

• In 45 cases, there was no equipment readiness with the agency responsible.
  NAMASTE Scheme Status:
• 84,902 workers were identified under the scheme across 36 States/UTs.
• Only about half have received PPE kits.

Challenge

Systemic Neglect:

• The contractual nature of employment leads to accountability gaps.
• Piecemeal implementation of laws and safety guidelines.

Lack of Awareness and Training:

• Workers are often unaware of risks or rights.
• Absence of training in mechanised cleaning.

Implementation Deficit:

• Existing laws are poorly enforced.
• The NAMASTE scheme remains under-implemented in many regions.

Data Gaps and Misreporting:

• Underreporting of deaths and hazardous conditions.
• Lack of real-time, verified data.

Legal and Policy Inconsistencies:

• A disconnect between the government narrative (“manual scavenging has ended”) and the ground reality of hazardous sewer deaths.

Social Discrimination:

• The majority of sanitation workers come from marginalised Dalit communities, facing entrenched caste-based stigma.

Way Forward

Enforce Legal Provisions Strictly:

• Ensure strict implementation of the 2013 Act banning manual scavenging.
• Fix accountability for deaths and violations through legal and penal action.

Universal PPE and Mechanisation:

• Distribute safety gear to 100% of identified workers.
• Shift to complete mechanisation of sewer and septic tank cleaning.

Improve Monitoring and Real-Time Audits:

• Institutionalise independent social audits and real-time data collection.
• Establish a central monitoring portal to track deaths, safety violations, and gear distribution.

Worker Training and Consent:

• Provide mandatory training and counselling before any hazardous assignment.
• Ensure informed consent with legal safeguards and documentation.

Accountability of Contractors and Urban Bodies:

• Make contractors and municipal officials legally liable for lapses.
• Introduce insurance and compensation mechanisms with no delay.

Strengthen NAMASTE Scheme:

• Expand coverage to all workers and improve fund allocation and utilisation.
• Include rehabilitation, skill training, and alternate employment options.

Social Awareness and Stigma Removal:

• Launch campaigns to dismantle caste-based stigma against sanitation work.
• Encourage community ownership and support for mechanisation.

Judicial Oversight:

• Encourage court-monitored implementation of sewer safety laws.
• Take suo-motu cognisance of deaths and demand action plans from states.

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION

Question: Despite legal bans and policy schemes, hazardous sewer cleaning continues to claim lives in India. Critically evaluate the systemic challenges in ensuring sanitation worker safety and suggest measures for holistic reform. (250 words)

PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTION