The commission has taken notice of the fact that the workers died after entering a sewage tank without any protective gear at a private industrial unit in Tamil Nadu's Tiruppur district.
NHRC chairperson Justice (Retd) V. Ramasubramanian, expressed concern over the continuing deaths of sanitation workers despite legal provisions aimed at eradicating the practice.
From sewage worker to climate leader, Rana Dagore’s journey showcases resilience, growth, and advocacy, raising questions about the legality of manual scavenging in modern India.
Officials claim those identified as manual scavengers may not be practising & govt aid is to remove stigma. But experts say it is still prevalent due to poor infra in urban, rural areas.
The new bill is still awaiting cabinet approval. It proposes to completely mechanise the process of cleaning sewers and septic tanks, among other changes.
'Swachhata Abhiyan' app launched in December will operate till May. Social justice ministry hopes to identify undocumented manual scavengers for rehabilitation.
Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation (Amendment) Bill, 2020, proposes to completely mechanise the process of cleaning sewers and septic tanks.
The absence of a statutory obligation to provide sanitation services by state agencies creates a situation where the rights of manual scavengers hang in the air.
Number of manual scavengers in India had come down from nearly 8 lakh in 2003 to about 13,000 in 2013. But despite Swachh Bharat, this figure shot up to 42,303 in 2018.
Standing up to America is usually not a personal risk for a leader in India. Any suggestions of foreign pressure unites India behind who they see as leading them in that fight.
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