Manual Scavengers Erased from Existence: The Shameful Reality

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 systemic disregard for the lives of these vulnerable workers. The persistent apathy from those in power is not only distressing but also a glaring violation of basic human rights. 

NHRC - The Toothless Tiger

A simple glance at the NHRC’s press release concerning the Vrindavan incident reveals a familiar pattern of inaction cloaked in bureaucratic language. "The Commission," it states, "has been consistently advocating a total ban on hazardous cleaning activities without adequate and proper protective/safety gears or equipment. It has also advocated for the use of technology-based robotic machines, and holding the responsible authorities accountable in case of any sanitary worker's death during hazardous cleaning work." The NHRC also mentions that it had issued an advisory on September 24, 2021, urging the Union, State Governments, and local authorities to eradicate these dangerous practices and ensure accountability.

The NHRC appears to limit its role to issuing advisories and occasionally admonishing state machinery after incidents occur. If we examine the years 2021 through 2024, it becomes clear that the NHRC's primary action has been to issue a single advisory in the last 3 years. This raises the question: who actually takes these advisories seriously?

The work of manual scavengers in 21st century India stands as one of the most egregious human rights violations. The core issue lies in the impotence of crucial institutions like the NHRC in our country which are often derided as ornamental and toothless bodies. These organisations, theoretically established to safeguard human rights, frequently lack the power and authority to enforce meaningful change. 

The recommendations made by the NHRC are non-binding, leaving the commission without the authority to penalise authorities that fail to implement its suggested orders. Lacking the power of prosecution, the NHRC is often referred to as a "toothless tiger," unable to enforce its recommendations. This limitation largely hampers its ability to address human rights violations, especially those perpetrated by private parties, which fall outside its jurisdiction. Consequently, the NHRC's influence remains limited, as it can only issue advisories and hope for voluntary compliance from the authorities. This structural weakness shows the urgent need for reforms to empower organisations such as the NHRC with enforcement capabilities, so that human rights violations are not merely acknowledged but actively addressed and rectified.

The frequency and heartbreak of these incidents are beyond words. Just last month, two manual scavengers died while cleaning a septic tank at a house in Noida. The police reported that they fell unconscious after inhaling poisonous gas from the tank and were declared dead at the hospital. Similarly, at least two people in Delhi suffocated while cleaning a septic tank. These tragedies unfold with alarming regularity, many going unreported by the media, and when they are reported, they are often treated with casual indifference, akin to reporting an ordinary event.

Manual Scavengers Erased from Existence

The government's stance on this issue is deeply troubling. Despite numerous fatalities, it refuses to acknowledge deaths caused by manual scavenging. In February 2019, a question was raised in the Lok Sabha about the ongoing deaths of manual scavengers due to manual scavenging. The government's response was that there had been no reports of such deaths related to manual scavenging, though they admitted that deaths while cleaning sewers and septic tanks occasionally appeared in newspapers. The same question resurfaced in February 2022, questioning whether the mediaeval practice of manual scavenging still persists, forcing workers to clean waste and faeces by hand. Again, the government claimed there were no reports of manual scavenging in the country.

This denial is often the reason why the problem persists. If you don’t accept there is a problem, why will you look for a solution? Even children in the country know that manual scavenging exists, yet the government refuses to admit it. It is believed that this denial is to protect the country's image internationally. Similar to how slums were bulldozed and the remaining ones that stood in the way were hidden behind massive green curtains during the recently held G20 summit. 

What does this show about our country? It almost seems like we are a country that is ashamed of our poor. Incidentally, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was recently asked by a well known anchor of an English news channel during an interview about income inequality—the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer—he smiled and remarked, "So what, you want everyone to be poor?" This encapsulates the mindset of our government towards the most underprivileged and marginalised sections of society, who risk their lives in manholes to earn a meagre meal for themselves and their families. Tragically, the government does not acknowledge their existence. So what if the poor are getting poorer?

The NHRC, an organisation mandated to protect human rights, operates from air-conditioned rooms and reacts only after incidents occur, issuing letters to the powers that be who also forward letters here and there. The Commission’s single advisory in three years speaks volumes about the seriousness with which the Commission reacts to such gross violations of human rights and dignity. As a result, these manhole deaths will continue unabated until there is a systemic change. Those in positions of power must understand and acknowledge that the lives of the most marginalised matter. Who will speak for these manual scavengers who die regularly? As the saying goes, the dead cannot cry out for justice; it is the duty of the living to do so on their behalf. 

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