The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has initiated action after three sanitation workers tragically died in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur district while cleaning a septic tank at a private hospital. The NHRC has requested a detailed report from the Raipur District Magistrate and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) within two weeks, emphasizing the gravity of the situation if the media report is accurate.
The incident, as reported on March 17, involved the workers succumbing to toxic gases during the cleaning process. Allegations from the deceased workers’ relatives suggest a lack of safety equipment provided by the hospital management or the contractor. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has expressed condolences and instructed support for the affected families.
In response to the tragedy, CM Sai chaired a meeting to enforce the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. He announced plans for mandatory permissions before entering sewers, with legal consequences for non-compliance. The NHRC, established under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, plays a crucial role in safeguarding human rights in India, with the authority to take proactive measures in response to reported violations.
