Sanitation worker fatalities and safety in India

The rights organization Safai Karmachari Andolan (SKA) has accused the Indian government of underreporting fatalities among sanitation workers cleaning sewers and septic tanks. While the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment reported 332 deaths between January 2021 and June 2026, SKA records indicate 593 deaths, a discrepancy of 261. SKA characterized the omission as “criminal” and “shameful,” noting that the deaths primarily involve Dalit laborers and highlighting ongoing caste-based discrimination and unsafe manual cleaning practices.

Following these concerns, the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) approved compensation for 1,223 families related to 1,377 recorded fatalities. During the commission’s 33rd foundation day, the Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, advocated for the elimination of dangerous manual cleaning through full mechanization. Meghwal stated that the national goal should be “zero dangerous manual entry and zero fatalities in septic tanks,” emphasizing the need for proper training, safety equipment, and social security for workers.