If you’ve ever embarked on a road trip, lingered in a train station, cheered in a stadium, or simply enjoyed a visit to any public space, then you’ve benefited from the labour of the unsung heroes who keep these spaces clean: sanitation workers. In recent years, especially since the advent of the Swachh Bharat Mission, we’ve seen a positive shift in attitudes towards sanitation. There are toilets everywhere, and more importantly, these toilets are clean.
The boots-on-the-ground who make that happen are sanitation workers. These are the people who we never think of when we think about public health. Having said that, sanitation workers are the frontline in disease prevention: they play a vital role in maintaining public health and hygiene, as they prevent the contamination of water sources, reduce the risk of infections, and improve the quality of life for millions of people. Without them, our cities and villages would be overwhelmed by filth and disease.
The Dirty Truth
Ironically, the work of cleaning is often perceived as ‘dirty’. By extension, so are the people who perform it. This misperception sets the stage for several injustices. Sanitation workers are often stigmatised and dehumanised, their work deemed menial and unskilled, and they themselves, considered ‘less than’ and inferior to others. Historically, only individuals from the lowest castes undertook these responsibilities. The caste system firmly associated the identity of these communities with their occupations, leading to the entire community being perceived as ‘unclean.’
Even in contemporary times, despite legal prohibitions and constitutional safeguards, many individuals from lower castes still encounter social stigma and discrimination based on both their caste identity and occupation. They are subjected to verbal abuse, physical violence, or social exclusion. They are also denied access to public services, such as education, health care, or housing, making the problem an intergenerational one. They face difficulties in finding alternative employment or livelihood opportunities due to their low social status, which makes it that much harder for a child from this background to do just about anything else.
The dehumanisation fuels other dangers in the form of hazardous working conditions. This exposes them to various health risks like infections and toxic gases. Toxic gases, such as ammonia, carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide build up in septic tanks and sewers and can cause workers to lose consciousness or die. It is estimated that three sanitation workers die every five days in India. They often lack access to even basic facilities like toilets, showers, or drinking water.
Another challenge faced by sanitation workers is the lack of proper protective measures. They are often not covered by labour laws or social security schemes that would enforce their rights and benefits. Most of the time, as these people are untrained, they aren’t aware of what the safety standards and procedures are. They aren’t paid fairly, or even regularly. After all, they have no authority to complain to. When it comes to the informal sector, sanitation workers are often at the very bottom of the social totem pole.
Creating Protections
Fortunately, there are some basic measures employers can take that can have an outsized impact on the health and well-being of sanitation workers:
- Providing sufficient and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and ensuring their proper use and maintenance.
- Providing access to clean water, soap and toilets at work sites and depots, and encouraging regular handwashing and personal hygiene practices.
- Providing training and awareness on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standards and practices.
- Providing social security benefits, such as health insurance, sick leave and compensation for injuries or illnesses, to all sanitation workers, regardless of their employment status or contract type.
Respecting the Rights of Sanitation Workers
Sanitation workers have the right to decent work, fair wages, social security, and protection from hazardous conditions. In India, several laws and policies have been enacted for the protection of sanitation workers including the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) (EMSCDLP) Act, 1993, and Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation (PEMSR) Act, 2013. However, these rights are often violated or ignored by employers, contractors, and authorities. Many sanitation workers are employed informally, without contracts or benefits.
To properly enforce these rights, we need stronger legal mechanisms alongside social monitoring. Sanitation workers need to be made aware of their rights, as well as the mechanisms for redressal when these rights aren’t respected.
The Winds of Change
At the end of the first phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission in 2019, India’s Prime Minister, in a symbolic gesture, washed the feet of five sanitation workers. This sent a powerful message to the entire nation that sanitation workers are an essential part of society and their work needs to be recognized and respected.
Harpic, India’s leading brand in the lavatory care segment, has been championing the cause of sanitation workers for years now. Harpic set up India’s first World Toilet College in 2016, with the stated objective of improving the quality of life of manual scavengers through their rehabilitation by linking them with dignified livelihood options. The college operates as a knowledge sharing platform with an aim to uplift the lives of the sanitation workers by educating them about their rights, health hazards, use of technology and alternate livelihood skills. Workers trained by the college are provided placement with various organisations.
Harpic’s creation of World Toilet Colleges uplifts the entire profession – no longer is it seen as unskilled, dirty work. It is now seen as a profession that requires specific skills and training; and sanitation workers are seen as trained, skilled professionals performing essential services.
Building Empathy Through Awareness and Education
Three years ago, Harpic joined hands with News18 to create Mission Swachhta aur Paani, a movement that champions the cause of inclusive sanitation, equality for all genders, abilities, castes and classes and the strong belief that clean toilets are a shared responsibility.
Mission Swachhta aur Paani creates the space for dialogue on key issues regarding toilet access and toilet hygiene, and the problems that sanitation workers face. These discussions involve government officials, NGOs, activists, sanitation workers, educators and members of the public. The aim is to come up with informed solutions to nuanced problems, and raise the awareness of the general public about the problems we contribute to, and how we can reverse that trend.
Join us here, to learn about how you can be a part of the solution.
