The workers are paid a meagre Rs 156 for 24 hours of work Read also:Scavenging still a reality Photographs by: Meeta Ahlawat
Children of the safai karamcharis use water from a supply line for their household chores Read also:Scavenging still a reality Photographs by: Avikal Somvanshi
Most of the sanitation workers are recruited through agents and have no fixed contract Read also:Scavenging still a reality Photographs by: Meeta Ahlawat
Manual scavenging is prohibited under law, yet the Uttar Pradesh government has built 28,000 dry latrines in the Kumbh area Read also:Scavenging still a reality Photographs by: Meeta Ahlawat
The workers live on the fringe of the mela area and have no sanitation facilities for themselves Read also:Scavenging still a reality Photographs by: Meeta Ahlawat
The authorities have hired 5,000 people to keep these toilets clean and are set to hire 5,000 more Read also:Scavenging still a reality Photographs by: Meeta Ahlawat
Sanitation workers wash up after cleaning the toilets Read also:Scavenging still a reality Photographs by: Avikal Somvanshi
Most of these safai karamcharis are manual scavengers from Banda district Read also:Scavenging still a reality Photographs by: Meeta Ahlawat
They live in slum settlements like these Read also:Scavenging still a reality Photographs by: Avikal Somvanshi
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.