Manual Scavenging Still Continues Across Maharashtra: Safai Panel Chief Admits After Butibori Deaths A day after two sanitation workers died while cleaning a sewage chamber in MIDC Butibori, Maharashtra, the state’s Safai Karmachari Commission president, Satish Dagor, admitted to The Times of India that manual scavenging persists despite a legal ban. Dagor, who holds the rank of minister of state (MoS), acknowledged the practice continues across the state, blaming private contractors and outsourcing agencies for violating safety norms. He emphasized that strict action would be taken in the Butibori case, though he admitted the issue remains unresolved. Dagor stated that ongoing discussions with government agencies at all levels are aimed at halting manual scavenging. He highlighted efforts to engage district collectors, municipal commissioners, and local councils to enforce the ban. “Authorities must ensure the safety of sanitation workers by providing proper gear,” he said. However, he acknowledged that enforcement remains a significant challenge, despite the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, being in effect. The Butibori incident has again exposed the gap between official claims of automated sewage cleaning and the reality on the ground. Multiple reports have documented manual cleaning of sewers, septic tanks, and drainage lines in urban and industrial areas, despite legal prohibitions. Dagor admitted that contractors often exploit vulnerable workers, forcing them to enter toxic chambers for minimal pay. “A private contractor can push a worker into such a dangerous job for as little as Rs2,000,” he said. Dagor noted that while fatalities have decreased compared to previous years, cases still occur in various districts.#maharashtra #times_of_india #butibori #safai_karmachari_commission #satish_dagor
