NHRC Takes Action on Manual Scavenging in Mumbai’s Drain Network.
New Delhi:
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, has initiated suo motu action regarding the reported manual scavenging practices in Mumbai. According to media reports, every year before the monsoon, the Mumbai municipal authorities engage ‘seasonal sanitation workers’ to manually clean a 2200 km stormwater and sewage drain network, in apparent violation of the ban on manual scavenging.
The NHRC has expressed serious concern over the reported hardships faced by these workers and their families, including inadequate safety measures and the use of child labour. The Commission has issued a notice to the Maharashtra Chief Secretary, demanding a detailed report within four weeks. This report should address the issues raised, including steps taken to separate sewer and stormwater drains in Mumbai and measures to ensure the safety and rights of these workers.
The NHRC’s intervention follows allegations that these workers, often migrants residing in temporary slum colonies, are being exploited under the guise of ‘seasonal sanitation workers’ to bypass legal protections against manual scavenging. The Commission underscores that this designation does not exempt employers from adhering to the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, and other relevant guidelines.
The NHRC has previously advocated for a complete ban on hazardous cleaning without proper protective gear and the adoption of modern technology for such tasks. It has also issued advisories and highlighted the need for accountability and the use of technological solutions in line with Supreme Court directives.
