Manual scavenging continues Ramdas Athavale

National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Vice Chairman Arun Haldar has directed Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to provide Employee Deposit Life Insurance (EDLI) to the families of the two manual scavengers, who died in Hyderabad due to asphyxiation on August 3.

The body of one of the workers was found on the day of the incident, while that of the other was found six days later. Both the workers belong to the scheduled castes. Haldar visited the location of the incident and also called on the families of the deceased workers.

Haldar said that he was pained to see that two men were employed late in the night to clean sewers, though manual scavenging is banned under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act 2013. It must be noted here that Union Minister for Social Welfare Ramdas Athavale, in his reply to a question, in the current session of the parliament, on manual scavenging in the country, had denied its existence.

Haldar pointed out to the officials present that though the Act prohibits employment of manual scavengers for cleaning of septic tank/sewer lines, contractors still engage workers for the jobs, often leading to the workers’ death as in the present case.

The officials informed him that the contractor and the subcontractor have been arresting, after cases were filed against them. Apart from this, three officials have also been suspended. The officials also stated that Rs 10 lakh each was paid to the families of the deceased. Haldar directed them to ensure that the families of both the labourers are provided a two-bedroom-hall-kitchen apartment, employment to a member of each family and