“MANUAL SCAVENGING OR DEATH SCAVENGING”

News letter covering five incidents of consequent death of the Safai Karmcharis while working in the Manhole,

(Death of five Safai karmcharis because of hazardous effect from Gas in the Manhole)

At Vadodara District, State: Gujarat:

 
On 25th of may-08 at about 11.00 in the night two Safai Karmcahris namely, Solanki Harishbhai Maganbhai aged: 25 years, along with Solanki Naganbhai Dalshukhbhai aged: 45 were cleaning the Suage Pumping Station near Kalagoda, Vadodara, Dist: Vadodara. Both of these Safai Karmcharies were not provided with any of the Safety equipments. Both  died after being affected from the Hazardous Gas influent from the Sewage line.
 
The incident was registered as a legal complaint via Crime registration No: 107/08, under the Indian Penal Code Section: 304(a) wherein the Deputy Chief Engineer of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation was stated as accused. (Responsible person). The CAG Secretariat of the EC-EIDHR Project Gujarat came to know about the incident and conducted visit. In the visit they met the affectedfamilies along with the relatives, consoled them and took the information and factual data. Further they  approached the Mayor of the Municipal Corporation namely: Mr: Sunil Solanki . In this meeting the CAG Secretariat raised the concern  to the Mayor and made an appeal to help the affected family. Mayor insured Rs: 3 lac as compensation to both of the affected family, surplus he also assured job security to the dependent from the deceased family. Further the secretariat also mentioned the absence of section: 3(1)6 as well as any provisions of the section from The Employment Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry latrines (Prohibition) Act: 1993 Although he appreciatd immediate disbursement of the compensation amount to the deceased's family. 

The CAG Secretariat has not limited  effort to the Mayor but it also approached the Chief Minister of Gujarat, to the State Human Rights Commission, to the State Social Welfare Department as well as the respective district level officer by submitting a written petition demanding following point to justify, 
 

Firstly,

Does the absence of section 3(1) 6 of the Atrocity Act: 1989 in the registered FIR vary with Crime registration No: 107/08, at Vadodara.

Secondly,

Absence of any legal steps/procedure against the Vadodara Municipal Corporation, as per the rules and provision of the Employment Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry latrines (Prohibition) Act: 1993.

Thirdly,

As per the Rule-15 of the Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribe (Prohibition) of the Atrocity Act:1989, the state Government is  held responsible & liable to regulate and enforce the implementation of the provisions of the said act, so as per the upward rule-15 of the SC/St Act 1989 the state Government is expected to implement the act. In that case the state government is expected to take appropriate action towards the consent government officials as per the section: 4 of the Atrocity Act: 1989. (Section: 4 of the Atrocity Act: 1989 Punishment to the Government Officials for his/her negligence in executing his/her duty in implementing the Act) 

And fourthly,

A Complaint from the Sub-Divisional Magistrate towards the Vadodara Municipality, followed with appropriate affirmative steps to penalize the responsible accused. (As per the Rule-17 of The Employment Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry latrines (Prohibition) Act: 1993)

Death of Safai karmcharies at Ahmedabad:

At Ahmedabad and near to Saijpur Bogha Pumping station two Safai karmcharies namely, Yogeshbhai Jivan and Ramnivas died after they were seriously affected by the Hazardous gas in the Manhole and both  died on the spot. In this incident also they were not equipped with any  safety equipments, (please referred hear that they were not provided with any of the Safety Equipments by the Municipal Corporation- Ahmedabad)
Similarly,
 
On 17th Jun-08 two Safai karmcharies belonging to Valmiki community namely, Shambhubhai Ranchodbhai Parmar, (2) Vaghela Ganshyambhai
Hirabhai Vaghela, who were working at the Kalory Bread company were affected by the Hazardous gas as they were doing the cleaning work of the Drainage line, both were died immediately.