‘These Are Murders’: Students, Activists Protest The Deaths Of Manual Scavengers
In Delhi, six people died while cleaning sewers this month alone.
New Delhi: A group of protesters assembled at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Tuesday to protest the deaths of manual scavengers in different parts of the country, The Wire reported.
“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 (SKA), said, while addressing around 1,000 protesters. “What we deserve is dignity and self respect, like B.R. Ambedkar had said – and that is what we are fighting for,” he added.
Also read: ‘Swachh Bharat’ Hollow Slogan As PM ‘Blind’ To Plight Of Manual Scavengers: Rahul
Pointing fingers at Modi government, the renowned social activist asserted that he failed to understand why manual scavengers are completely ignored. Wilson said, “Nowadays the government says so much about ‘Swachh Bharat’ – but it doesn’t have a word to say about manual scavengers. We are not asking them for money! We are asking for basic human rights.”
In Delhi, six people died while cleaning sewers this month alone. According to Wilson, there are no less than 25 lakh such scavengers in India, of which almost 1.6 lakh are women.
Speaking to The Wire, Delhi-based daily-wage labourer Santosh said, “These are not deaths. These are murders. It’s a grave injustice that this is still happening.”
Besides students and activists, family members of the individuals who have died while cleaning sewers and septic tanks were also present at the protest site.