NEW DELHI: Around 1,000 people, including students and activists, had gathered to protest the deaths of manual scavengers in sewers in different parts of the country.
In the last two weeks, as many as six manual scavengers have lost their lives in the National Capital Region alone – five in one incident and one in another.
Another five manual scavengers' deaths were reported from Chhattisgarh. "We shouldn't have to share these stories or re-live them. We don't owe it to anyone," Bezwada Wilson, convenor of the Safai Karamchari Andolan said.. "What we deserve our dignity and self-respect," he added.
"Look into the eyes of the young children and tell them where their fathers are? The Prime Minister picked up the broom in Varanasi, and spent crores on his publicity for the Swachh Bharat campaign, but can he give answers to these people today?" he said.
Solidarity for the workers poured in from across quarters. "Sewer deaths are murders," said CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat, who led the protest. "There is a law against manual scavenging.
However, it is not being implemented. Machines are supposed to be used for cleaning drains, but they are not being used. In such situations, people end up calling workers when drains clog," said Karat.
The delegation also submitted a memorandum to the state government, demanding provision of sewer-cleaning machines, rehabilitation of workers, strict enforcement of the ban on manual scavenging, Rs 25 lakh compensation to the family of those killed and a curb on the privatisation of sanitation work. Families of the labourers who died were present and expressed their condition.