'We are scared to even raise our voice': Delhi sewer workers tell roundtable

By Jag Jivan
A roundtable attended by more than 100 sewer workers in Delhi, saw sharp voices against the contract system, poor wages and lack of any social benefits. Organised by the Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikar Manch (DASAM), which has refused to reveal the identity of the sewer workers who spoke on the occasion for fear of retaliation from the authorities, saw workers complain that have been working for more than 10 years, hoping that someday they would be made permanent.
Said a sewer worker, “We earn less than the minimum wage provided by the government and do not receive any benefits from the government”, adding, “If someone in our family gets sick, we have nowhere to go for treatment. We are deprived of the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) and the Provident Fund (PF), which are basic facilities.”
Another worker said, “The contractor wages for only four months, though they are hired for for six months”, adding, “We have to do odd jobs to sustain ourselves. After one contract ends, we have to worry if we would be hired again or not.”
Yet another worker said, “We are scared to even raise our voice against any injustice either by the contractor or the neighborhood we work in. A constant threat of losing our job looms on our heads. Injuries while opening the sewer is so common that we do not even count it as an injury, and after such injuries, we are left on our own to treat them.”
Addressing the sewer workers, Ashok Kumar, a senior DASAM activist, spoke about the exploitative contractual system, pointing out, DASAM had submitted a presentation in front of MLAs of Delhi for contractual sewer workers and urged them to raise their issues in Parliament”, regretting, however, nothing has happened thereafter.
Citing a survey conducted on socio-economic and working conditions of contractual sewer workers, he said, “The contractual workers receive no work permits or ID cards, which further adds to their problem, especially in the case of accident or death.” In fact, they have to “struggle to prove the worker died while engaged in sewer work.”

Noted Ena Zafar, another senior DASAM activist, they witnessed that, although outlawed, sewer workers face untouchability. Even when a worker asks for water from some household, he or she is outright denied or asked to “take away the bottle.”
Virender Goudh, president, Municipal Workers Lal Jhanda Union (affiliated with the Centre for Indian Trade Unions) spoke about the issues workers and unions have to face while getting approval for minimum wage. The announced benefit of minimum wage has not reached the workers. Workers continue to receive money below minimum wages as whatever amount is added, is taken over by the contractors.
Shashi Raj, deputy convenor, Delhi Democratic Alliance, said that despite the slight engagement of people in the sewer work from some other castes, majority of workers belong to the Dalit community, which is historically oppressed and is still being oppressed. Workers are crying for basic facility for risking their lives, but the authorities have refused to listen to them.

Comments

Manufacturing, services: India's low-skill, middle-skill labour remains underemployed

By Francis Kuriakose* The Indian economy was in a state of deceleration well before Covid-19 made its impact in early 2020. This can be inferred from the declining trends of four important macroeconomic variables that indicate the health of the economy in the last quarter of 2019.

Civil society flags widespread violations of land acquisition Act before Parliamentary panel

By Jag Jivan Civil society organisations and stakeholders from across India have presented stark evidence before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj , alleging systemic violations of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013 , particularly in Scheduled Areas and tribal regions.

Food security? Gujarat govt puts more than 5 lakh ration cards in the 'silent' category

By Pankti Jog* A new statistical report uploaded by the Gujarat government on the national food security portal shows that ensuring food security for the marginalized community is still not a priority of the state. The statistical report, uploaded on December 24, highlights many weaknesses in implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in state.

Why Indo-Pak relations have been on 'knife’s edge' , hostilities may remain for long

By Utkarsh Bajpai* The past few decades have seen strides being made in all aspects of life – from sticks and stones to weaponry. The extreme case of this phenomenon has been nuclear weapons. The menace caused by nuclear weapons in the past is unforgettable. Images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from 1945 come to mind, after the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the cities.

Incarceration of Prof Saibaba 'revives' the question: What is crime, who is criminal?

By Kunal Pant* In 2016, a Supreme Court Judge asked the state of Maharashtra, “Do you want to extract a pound of flesh?” The statement was directed against the state for contesting the bail plea of Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba. Saibaba was arrested in 2014, a justification for which was to prevent him from committing what the police called “anti-national activities.”

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Concentration of wealth in India at levels 'comparable to colonial times', says new report

By Jag Jivan A new report published in March 2026 by the Centre for Financial Accountability and the Tax The Top campaign paints a stark picture of deepening economic disparity in India, documenting a concentration of wealth that it argues is “comparable to colonial times.” Titled Wealth Tracker India | Tax the Top. Close the Gap , the compilation presents data from the World Inequality Database and the Hurun Rich List to illustrate the meteoric rise of the ultra-wealthy alongside the stagnation and debt burdens of the majority.

Protesters in UK cities voice concerns over alleged developments in Bastar region

By A Representative Demonstrations were held across several cities in the United Kingdom on March 28, as groups and activists gathered to protest what they described as state actions in India under the reported “Operation Kagar.”

Dr. Ram Bux Singh: Biogas pioneer’s legacy gains urgency amid energy crisis

By A Representative In an era defined by a global energy crisis and a desperate search for sustainable solutions, the visionary work of an Indian scientist from the mid-20th century is finding renewed, urgent relevance. Dr. Ram Bux Singh , a pioneering figure in biogas and renewable energy , is being posthumously honored by the Government of India, even as his decades-old innovations provide a blueprint for today’s challenges.

Search This Blog