File photo of workers cleaning a sewer manually in New Delhi.
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday directed government authorities to pay a compensation Rs 30 lakh to the kin of those who die while cleaning sewers.
A bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and Aravind Kumar expressed grave anguish at the practice of manual scavenging, which still continues.
The bench directed that in case of death while cleaning sewers compensation must be Rs 30 lakh and those who suffer permanent disabilities should be paid Rs 20 lakh as minimum compensation. Justice Bhat said the authorities will have to pay up to Rs 10 lakh if the cleaner suffers other disabilities.
The bench said people owe this to a large segment of the population, who have remained unseen, unheard and muted, in bondage, systematically trapped in inhuman conditions.
The bench said the Union government and the state governments must ensure that manual scavenging is completely eradicated and issued a slew of directions.
The apex court directed that the government agencies must coordinate to ensure that such incidents do not occur and the high courts are not precluded from monitoring the cases related to sewer deaths.
The order was passed in a PIL filed by Dr Balram Singh against manual scavenging.
Justice Bhat, who read out the verdict, said the authorities needed to take measures for the rehabilitation of the victims and their families.
The kith and kin of the victims be provided scholarships and imparted skill development training.