NHRC calls for fixing responsibility and accountability of concerned authorities in case of death of any sanitary worker while undertaking hazardous cleaning work: Issues Advisory to the Centre, States and UTs for protecting the rights of persons...

NHRC calls for fixing responsibility and accountability of concerned authorities in case of death of any sanitary worker while undertaking hazardous cleaning work: Issues Advisory to the Centre, States and UTs for protecting the rights of persons engaged in manual scavenging or hazardous cleaning

New Delhi, 29th September, 2021

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India, headed by Justice Shri Arun Kumar Mishra, has issued an Advisory to the Centre and the State Governments in which the Commission calls for fixing responsibility and accountability of local authority and contractor/ employer, jointly and severally in case of any death that occur due to manual scavenging including hazardous cleaning. In addition to this, the Commission has also advised to treat sanitary workers as frontline health workers for all purposes and made several recommendations to provide security cover and ensuring protection of human rights of persons engaged in manual scavenging and hazardous cleaning.

The Commission, in a letter through its Secretary General, Shri Bimbadhar Pradhan to the Secretaries of concerned Union Ministries/Departments and Chief Secretaries of States and Administrators of Union Territories, has asked for the implementation of its recommendations in the Advisory and sought Action Taken Report within three months.

The Union Ministries include Social Justice and Empowerment, Housing and Urban Affairs and the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis.

he Advisory has focused on various key areas which include ensuring proper safety gear for sanitary workers, use of technology, responsibility of hiring agencies/employers & concerned authorities, strengthening the infrastructure for providing sanitary services, awareness, sensitization, ensuring access to justice and rehabilitation of manual scavengers.

Some of the important recommendations, among others, are as follows:

- All sanitary workers entering/cleaning septic tanks/sewer lines must be provided with helmet, safety jacket, gloves, masks, gumboots, safety glasses, torchlight along with an oxygen cylinder;

- Use of duly acknowledged and recognized technological equipment e.g., Bandicoot, Swere Crocs, KAMJET GR, Mobile Septage Treatment Unit (MSU), etc be encouraged by stakeholders;

- A nationwide database to be put in place for rehabilitated and trained/skilled manual scavengers for providing required assistance;

- All officials in concerned departments at the Centre, State and Local bodies to be sensitized and measures to sensitize public to be taken;

- Monitoring of implementation of the PEMSR Act, 2013;

- Ensuring proper identification of persons engaged in manual scavenging.

For more details, CLICK HERE for the Advisory.