(Samajweekly) “We don’t know for how long we will be able to feed ourselves and our families”
The “Roundtable with Sewer Workers” was organized by Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikar Manch (DASAM) on 21st August, 2021 Tahirpur, Delhi, where sewer workers throughout Delhi came together along with Worker Unions and Government bodies. The workshop was attended by more than 50 sewer workers.
The Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikar Manch (DASAM) has worked on the social, economic and working condition of the sewer workers in Delhi, especially among workers working under contractual system. Ms. Ena Zafar (National Coordinator, DASAM) informed the workers about the statement made by Ramdas Athawale where he has distinguished between manual scavenger and sewer workers. The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers Act 2013 defines a ‘manual scavenger’ as someone who is engaged or employed by an individual or a local authority or an agency or a contractor, for manually cleaning, carrying, disposing of, or otherwise handling in any manner, human excreta in an insanitary latrine or in an open drain or pit into which the human excreta from the insanitary latrines is disposed of, or on a railway track or in such other spaces or premises before the excreta fully decomposes in such a manner.
It further adds that if the employed person is provided with protective gear to clean excreta, he shall not be deemed as a manual scavenger. The exemption of considering the practice as manual scavenging on the basis of ‘protective gears’ is delusional and the workers have to enter the sewer, drains or open pits without any gear. It is a rare incident where the workers are provided with any gear.
The discussion was open to sewer workers. Their names are not being disclosed as they fear that they will be removed from their jobs. They highlighted several key points:
· They receive no safety equipment for their work.
· Money is deducted from their salary for non-working days such as Saturday, Sunday, and other public holidays.
· The wages are different throughout Delhi.
· Workers at some stores receive a salary of Rs.14500 in Bank out of which they have to return the money to the Junior Engineer (J.E.) as the J.E. deducts the money for non-working day i.e. Saturday, Sunday and other public holidays and calculates the wage as Rs.400 to be given per working day.
· Despite risking their lives, there is complete uncertainty of the job. As a worker said “we do not know if there will be food on our plates the next day”
· There is a constant threat to lose work if the workers raise their voice against the system.
· In small areas, where the machine cannot enter, the sewer workers have to enter manually and do the needful. Also, they receive a maximum of rope from the authorities in the name of safety equipment which is tied to their waist as they enter the sewer.
The workers demand recognition for risking their lives. They demand equal wages throughout Delhi. Adequate medical facilities and other facilities which are provided to permanent employees need to be extended to workers employed under the contractual system.
Mr. Ashok Kumar Taank (National coordinator, DASAM) emphasized the need for the workers to unite and raise their voices against the continuous harassment they face from their stores. He highlights that the workers who have gathered are below 50 years of age, but what will happen when they are deemed unfit for cleaning sewer? How will we then survive?
He adds that continuous efforts have been made by the government to make the sewer workers invisible so they are not held accountable for the continuous deaths taking place within the sector.
After hearing from the sewer workers, the panelist shared their suggestions with the attendees. The panelists included:
· Mr. Sanjay Gehlot (Chairperson, Delhi Commission for Safai Karamchari)
· Mr. Ved Prakash Bidlaan (President, Delhi Jal Board Sewer Department Mazdoor Sangathan)
· Mr. Susheel Chandel (General Secretary, Delhi Jal Board Sewer Department Mazdoor Sangathan)
· Mr. Virender Godh (President, Municipal Workers Lal Jhanda Union, CITU)
· Mr. Sushil Kaim (Jal Mal Kaamgaar Sangharsh Morcha)
The panelists asked the workers to come together and struggle for their rights. What worse could happen when they are given such low wages for a life-risking job!? Under the contractual system, the workers already struggle and are forced to do odd jobs when the contract goes for renewal. Since the nature of work is permanent, the workers should be allotted a permanent position by the government for their work. Governments come and go and talk about abolishing the contractual system but it has continued and workers continue to lose their lives in this system.
Mr. Sanjay Gehlot (Chairperson, Delhi Commission for Safai Karamchari) recalled his struggle when his mother used to work as a sanitation worker and he used to pitch in to help her. How the one who cleans the street to make city cleaner faces all kinds of dirt while at work. He raised his concern towards the uncertainty of job under the contractual system and promised the workers who were present at the Roundtable that adequate steps will be taken for the issues which were raised at the table.
Video Link: https://fb.watch/7wGsCQaD00/
Organized by Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikar Manch (DASAM) in collaboration with Delhi Jal Board Sewer Department Mazdoor Sangathan, Jal Mal Kaamgaar Sangharsh Morcha, DJB Employees Welfare Association (Regd.), Sewerage and Allied Workers Forum, National Domestic Workers Union, Municipal Works Lal Jhanda Union (Regd.) CITU, National Alliance of People’s Movement (NAPM), National Campaign for Dignity and Rights of Sewerage and Allied Workers (NCDRSAW), Institute for Democracy and Sustainability (IDS).
For more information, contact: 8178959197, 7065721374 I dashaktimanch@gmail.com
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