You probably have come across the image on your social media timeline-a kid crying next to his father’s body. For the past few days the plight of Anil,the dead sanitation worker, and his family has moved a nation to tears. Anil died last week cleaning sewer in West Delhi’s Dabri. While entering the manhole, the 37-year-old slipped and the rope around his waist broke, following which he fell in the 20-feet deep sewer. The family of four is yet to come to terms with the loss of its sole breadwinner
“He used to earn Rs 200, 250, at times Rs 1000. It depended on the kind of work he was asked to do. He never cleaned a large septic tank. It was the first time he did that don’t know what happened on that day,” said his live-in-partner Rani who could not hold back her tears.
Months before his death, Anil lost his job due to a foot injury, bringing more misery to the family.
“While cleaning a sewer, a nail pierced through his foot. It had got swollen. I was left with no option but start rag-picking for survival.Though, he did some odd jobs like sweeping even with an injured foot. He would spread his leg and clean the sewer while sitting, she added.
For Anil’s family, it has been a month of misfortune. Days before Anil’s death, the couple lost their 4-month-old baby to pneumonia.
“Anil admitted his eldest son to a school and told us that I was about to tell you and on the same day he passed away,” said 33-year-old Virendra, Anil’s friend who also does sewer cleaning for survival.
Virendra said nobody loves this job but on a lucky day it gets them Rs 1000 that’s way more than he could make by doing other work like pulling Rickshaw or a day of labour.
The life of a sewer worker is full of abuse and hardships and the survival.
“There are times when people would pressurise us to do scavenging and at times they threaten us and even shoo us away. We are refused money if the work is not done properly even scolded for not picking the rubble.”
For a sewer cleaner words like hygiene holds no meaning.”No one has told us anything. We just use soap and shampoo to clean us to make the stench go away. When the stench has gone inside, the body holds no value, he added.
However, with the huge outpour of support after Anil’s death his partner Rani remains hopeful
“It was Anil’s dream to educate all the three kids, make them successful. He did not want his kids to do manual scavenging. He wanted both the girl and boys to learn and move forward in life equally. They should get good education. This is what he wanted,” she said.
