Gaps in Law and Practice: Challenges of Sanitation Work in India

Abstract

In India, thousands of sanitation workers, including those involved in sanitation work, face daily risks to their health, safety, and dignity. Although laws like the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, aim to end manual scavenging and provide support for rehabilitation, the reality on the ground is very different. Many workers are still forced to do hazardous cleaning jobs without safety gear or proper wages. This happens because of weak law enforcement, lack of political will, poor monitoring, and deep-rooted caste discrimination. State and local authorities often deny that manual scavenging still exists, making it harder to bring change. This paper examines the gaps between what the law says and what actually happens. It also highlights the important role that social workers can play in supporting sanitation workers, spreading awareness, and demanding better services and justice. This paper highlights critical policy gaps in sanitation work across India. Despite the presence of national laws and schemes meant to protect sanitation workers, there remains a large disconnect between what is promised in policy and what is implemented on the ground.