NGOs demand stricter enforcement against manual scavenging in India

Despite a national ban on manual scavenging, workers are still being hired to clean sewers, putting their lives at risk. This issue was highlighted by a recent tragic event in New Delhi. A 43-year-old man named Panth Lal Chandra died while cleaning a sewer in New Friends Colony on Sunday. Two other workers were injured during the same incident. Activists from NGOs are calling for stricter enforcement of the ban. Yogendra Jha, from the Centre for Social Security Action and Research, emphasized the danger faced by these workers. He stated that many are forced to take on this dangerous work without proper safety gear to support their families. He urged the government to set up a committee to monitor such practices. Sunil Kumar Aledia, Executive Director of the Centre for Holistic Development, echoed these concerns. He noted that machines are available for sewer cleaning, but some contractors still prefer to send workers into manholes to save money. Aledia stressed the need for regular monitoring to ensure safety. The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act of 2013 prohibits manual scavenging and calls for the rehabilitation of affected workers. Emergency teams responded to the recent incident, but sadly, Chandra was declared dead at the hospital. Police have opened a case related to this incident, but there has been no response from the Delhi Jal Board.