Manual Scavenging

Despite repeated bans and landmark Supreme Court rulings, manual scavenging continues to claim lives across India. The Court's latest contempt notices expose a widening gap between constitutional promises and executive action, demanding accountability beyond mere legislation.

In a clarification on Jan 20, 2026, the Supreme Court held that the 30 lakh compensation for deaths from manual scavenging and sewer cleaning declared in the October 2023 Balram judgment applies to earlier deaths where compensation remains unpaid or undetermined, enabling affected families to claim the enhanced relief.