Sanitation work stands out as one of the most perilous professions, fraught with hazards such as
toxic gases and exposure to faecal sludge. Many workers are engaged informally, intensifying the
vulnerability of workers, leaving them without access to social, financial, and occupational safety
nets. In India, sanitation work is deeply entrenched in caste dynamics, placing workers among the
most marginalized within the urban poor. They remain invisible to the system, lacking identity and
recognition for their labour, and are often ostracized. They grapple with serious occupational and
environmental health risks that jeoparWhile the COVID-19 pandemic briefly brought these workers
to the forefront, likening them to medical professionals and police – a stark disparity persists. Is
their participation in sanitation work a choice for them? Are they adequately compensated for
their labor and contribution to society?
India has been striving to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)6 — ensuring clean water
and sanitation for all. However, this pursuit often comes at the expense of SDG3 — health and
SDG8 — decent work and livelihood, particularly for the workers themselves.
At Urban Management Centre, we have been working passionately in the urban sanitation space
and with the people engaged to clean sewer lines, desludge our septic tanks, clean open drains that
are also overflowing with water from the toilets, clean community and public toilets and manage
STPs and FSTPs and our work has unveiled the intricate layers of this profound problem. It’s a
convergence of issues related to sanitation infrastructure, enforcement, contract management,
and deeply rooted caste-based prejudices.
Our efforts began by enabling convergence between the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and the
National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM). We’ve supported the formation of Self-Help Groups
(SHGs) among sanitation workers, facilitating direct procurement by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and
the establishment of their enterprises. The SHG platform offers the dual advantage of simplified
procurement for ULBs and an avenue to integrate social and financial entitlements.
We have furthered this work through institutional support to several governments in implementing
a comprehensive program to achieve occupational safety for all sanitation workers, alongside
institutionalised social security for anyone performing hazardous sanitation work.
Urban Management Centre
