Lives that should matter: State apathy towards manual scavengers

Despite an SC ruling, availability of modern methods of sewer cleaning, there's a clear sign of neglect and don't care attitude among the state machinery, writes Sneha Bhattacharjee

In February this year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi washed the feet of sanitation workers at Kumbh Mela, his gesture was seen as symbolic of his support for them. However, a symbolic gesture does not necessarily amounts to benefits for sanitation workers across the country, who risk their lives day in and day out without any protective gear.

Take the recent case of seven workers — three employees and four sanitation workers — who died after inhaling toxic fumes while cleaning the sewer of a hotel in Vadodara, Gujarat. The incident has invoked angry reactions from several people on social media.