Discrimination And Human Rights Violations On The Sectors Of Sanitation Workers

Written by: V. Hari Haran , B.A.LL.B (3^rd Year ), Dhana Lakshmi Srinivasan University

Abstract

This article critically examines the enduring caste-based and gender discrimination faced by sanitation workers in India, a workforce overwhelmingly constituted by marginalized Scheduled Castes (Dalits) and women. Despite constitutional prohibitions under Articles 15 and 21, and legislations such as the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act (2013), caste-based occupational segregation persists, confining over 92% of sanitation workers to hazardous and dehumanizing roles. Dalit women, in particular, experience compounded discrimination manifesting as wage suppression, lack of menstrual hygiene provisions, and heightened exposure to violence. The prevalent use of contract and informal labour arrangements dilutes accountability, leaving workers without formal employment protections, regular wages, or adequate safety measures. Enforcement of labour laws and anti-discrimination statutes remains uneven, illustrated by over 96% of caste atrocity cases pending adjudication and continual reports of manual scavenging despite legal bans. This systemic neglect exacerbates workers’ socio-economic vulnerability, limiting their access to healthcare, education, and alternative livelihoods. The article calls for a multifaceted response: abolition of contract labour in sanitation, enhanced mechanization to eliminate hazardous manual work, rigorous legal enforcement targeting caste- and gender-based discrimination, and government-led socio-economic support programs. Only through integrated labour protections and anti-discrimination frameworks can the entrenched marginalization of sanitation workers be dismantled, ensuring safety, dignity, and equitable opportunity in this essential sector.

Keywords: human rights, labour law, rehabilitation, constitutional rights, Supreme Court of India, modern slavery, international conventions

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Volume 2 | Issue 2