Two sanitation workers who had attempted to enter a septic tank in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao district succumbed to poisonous gas

In this episode, we take a look at India’s performance at the Tokyo Olympics, the culture of sport and the support given to it in the country. We also look at manual scavenging and the deaths caused due to it, a protest by community health activists, the developments in Parliament, and the observation of Save India Day by trade unions

The manifesto lists the specific demands made by the manual scavengers to break the shackles of caste, patriarchy, and for the recovery, reconstruction, and reclamation of their fundamental right to live with dignity.

Manual Scavenging is actually ‘progeny of caste violence’ in Indian society. In the past two years, at least one manual scavenger died every five days while cleaning sewers.

The ‘job’ overwhelmingly employes members of the oppressed Dalit communities (mostly from Valmiki caste), who are often forced to become manual scavengers due to lack of employment opportunities and systemic discrimination.

There were 1,340 deaths in the past 10 years across the country, and 294 of the deaths had been reported in Tamil Nadu. The SKA survey portrays the harsh realities.