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Manual Scavengers Erased from Existence: The Shameful Reality

Manual scavengers remain unacknowledged and unprotected, facing life-threatening conditions daily. And in death, their numbers don't even get recorded.

By Aryan Saini
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Manual Scavengers

Manual scavenger | Photo courtesy: Special arrangement

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Manual scavengers, tragically caught in a cycle of neglect and peril, faced a fatal incident on June 8 in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh. Three workers, tasked with entering a private septic tank at a local food outlet, lost their lives. Media reports reveal that they were electrocuted while trying to repair a motor inside the tank. Disturbingly, these workers were not provided with any safety gear, revealing a severe lapse that resulted in their deaths. Employed by a private contractor, the men paid the ultimate price for this gross negligence.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) swiftly took suo motu cognisance of this grievous incident, condemning the negligence of both the contractor and local authorities, which led to the tragic loss of lives. The NHRC expressed deep concern over the continued exposure of workers to hazardous conditions without proper safety gear, a glaring lapse by public authorities. The Commission also demanded a report from the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh detailing the status of the FIR registered, the actions taken against those responsible, and the relief and rehabilitation provided to the families of the deceased workers. 

However, this incident is far from isolated. Every day, we are bombarded with harrowing tales of sanitation workers and manual scavengers losing their lives in septic tanks and manholes. The real tragedy lies in the deafening silence from the authorities, who continue to ignore these preventable deaths. Despite the mounting death toll of manual scavengers, there is a shocking lack of action and accountability that exposes a system

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