"Bezwada Wilson Speaks Out: Caste Discrimination Persists Despite Lack of Government Action"
In India, the sanitation sector is grappling with several challenges, from inadequate registration systems for workers to the continued practice of manual scavenging.
Despite the 2013 Act prohibiting human entry into sewers and manholes except in emergencies, the reality on the ground is far from ideal. Contractors pay as little as Rs 300-500 for sewage and septic tank work, with this dangerous work often carried out under the cover of darkness, at night. This practice not only puts the lives of sanitation workers at risk but also contributes to the high number of unreported deaths in the sector.
The government's data on sanitation worker deaths is inaccurate and incomplete, with the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis reporting 1313 sewer and septic tank deaths between 1993 and 2025. However, there is no standard process for compensation in case of sanitation worker deaths.
Regarding worker registration, there is no single centralized national system explicitly dedicated to the registration of sanitation workers across all of India. While some local bodies and states have their own systems or portals for managing sanitation workers and related welfare schemes, these are not fully centralized or digital self-registration portals accessible universally to workers, especially those who are illiterate or in remote areas.
For example, the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon registers sanitation workers on a solid waste management portal through inspectors who register their attendance daily. The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation uses a biometric attendance system to register employees involved in sanitation-related work under its domain, with around 449 registered employees as of now. States like Tamil Nadu have Sanitation Workers Welfare Boards that conduct welfare assistance distribution and likely maintain worker registries. Sikkim offers an Online Sanitation Certificate System related to establishment certifications but not directly a centralized worker registration system.
Accessibility for remote and illiterate workers is another concern. Available data suggests these systems often rely on officials or inspectors registering workers manually or via biometric attendance rather than direct online self-registration by workers. This method somewhat mitigates access issues faced by illiterate or remote workers but does not necessarily provide direct digital access to them. No specific details were found about user-friendly or assisted access features for remote/illiterate workers on these portals.
Another neglected area in India is waste segregation. Chemical waste, medical syringes, and garbage are not safely disposed of, and there is no scientific planning. The Namaste Scheme, intended to offer loans to sanitation workers to buy cleaning machines, is not effectively implemented on the ground, according to Bezwada Wilson, founder and national convenor of the Safai Karamchari Andolan, who has campaigned for the rights of sanitation workers for decades.
In an emergency, the person entering a manhole must wear gloves, a mask, gumboots, a protective coat, have access to oxygen cylinders, and prior notification must be given to a nearby medical facility and ambulance service. The 2013 Act and the rules framed under it outline the protective gear that should be worn by anyone entering a sewer system or manhole. However, many deaths of sanitation workers go unreported, especially in remote areas.
A large number of women are involved in cleaning dry latrines across several states, and most of them were never rehabilitated. The Indian Railways has been given more time to phase out the use of toilets whose waste must be manually cleaned. The Delhi Jal Board employs Safai Karmacharis for sewage and septic tank work, but they do not officially admit it, which leads to greater exploitation of the workers.
In conclusion, the sanitation sector in India faces numerous challenges, from inadequate registration systems for workers to the continued practice of manual scavenging and the lack of effective waste management systems. The government needs to address these issues urgently to ensure the safety and rights of sanitation workers and to improve the overall sanitation situation in the country.
References:
- Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon Solid Waste Management Portal
- Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation Biometric Attendance System
- Sikkim Online Sanitation Certificate System
- Tamil Nadu Sanitation Workers Welfare Boards
- Technology can play a crucial role in education-and-self-development, particularly for sanitation workers in India, by creating accessible, user-friendly digital self-registration portals for registration purposes.
- Policy-and-legislation, such as the 2013 Act that prohibits human entry into sewers and manholes, should be enforced effectively to protect workers and reduce fatalities, and comprehensive rules should address compensation for worker deaths.
- General-news outlets and political figures should highlight the challenges faced by sanitation workers, including their involvement in general-news topics like inadequate registration systems, the practice of manual scavenging, and the lack of effective waste management, to drive necessary policy changes and learning opportunities for the public.
