There is this government data that says over 400 people have died while cleaning septic tanks and sewers in India between 2018 and 2023.
According to another data provided by the Social Justice Ministry, over 1,035 people have died while cleaning sewers and septic tanks in the country since 1993.
Interestingly, in July 5, 2023, the Central Monitoring Committee (CMC) of the Social Justice Ministry concluded in its eighth meeting that all unsanitary latrines had been made sanitary under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. This, despite noting that just 520 districts across the country had declared themselves free of manual scavenging, according to a report in a national daily.
Thus, the Centre has come out with contradicting statements on the issue on different occasions.
The Safai Karmachari Andolan asserts that the dehumanising practice of manual scavenging is prevalent across the country, and is done by people who fall lowest in the caste hierarchy.
Going by reports on sewer deaths which continues unabated, it is clear that The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act of 2013 remains only on paper.
With this being election season, the Congress on Sunday accused the Modi government of meting out "injustice" to sanitation workers and asserted that if voted to power, it will end the evil practice of manual scavenging. The party vowed to re-skill all those engaged in manual scavenging for some other work and provide them jobs.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh shared a media report on X on the death of a sanitation worker due to gas leakage after he descended into a sewer without equipment.
"On April 5 2024, a sanitation worker in the Prime Minister's own Lok Sabha constituency died due to gas leakage after descending into a sewer without equipment.
This is not a new issue in Banaras (Varanasi) - during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, we were told that in the last ten years, more than 25 deaths have occurred in Banaras due to entering into sewers," he said in a post in Hindi on X.
On one hand, the Modi government is doing such "injustice" towards the sanitation workers and on the other hand, the Congress has made promises for them in its 'Nyay Patra', he said.
"The Congress will end the evil of manual scavenging. Every manual scavenger will be rehabilitated, re-skilled, provided a job and assured a life of dignity and safety," he said.
The Prohibition of Manual Scavenging Act, 2013, will be strictly implemented and any person employing anyone for manual scavenging shall be punished, the Congress general secretary said.
But on the same hand, Jairam Ramesh said that a compensation of Rs 30 lakh will be provided to the families of sanitation workers who lose their lives at work.
Meanwhile, the Congress, in its manifesto, has said that it will allocate sufficient funds to enable the procurement of machines that will clean sewers and septic tanks, and remove human waste.
"Free insurance will be provided to all sanitation workers. In collaboration with state governments, a comprehensive programme of underground drainage and safe disposal of sewage will be implemented in all towns and municipalities in 10 years," the party has said.
(With inputs from PTI)