CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat and other Left party workers stage a protest against manual scavenging, in the Capital on Monday. | Photo Credit: R_V_Moorthy more-in Several people under the banner of the CPI (M) and affiliated parties marched to the Delhi Secretariat on Monday, in protest against the recent deaths of workers while cleaning sewers. “Sewer deaths are murders,” said CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat, who led the protest. “There is a law against manual scavenging. However, it is not being implemented. Machines are supposed to be used for cleaning drains but they are not being used. In such situations, people end up calling workers when drains clog,” Ms. Karat said. Victim’s kin Rani, the wife of a worker who lost his life while cleaning a drain in Dabri, was present at the protest along with her three children. Holding up a picture of herself with her husband Anil, she demanded justice. Rani stated that she had not received any compensation so far. The delegation submitted a memorandum to the State government, which demanded provision of sewer cleaning machines, rehabilitation of workers, strict enforcement of the ban on manual scavenging, to ensure ?25 lakh compensation to the family of those killed and for the Delhi Jal Board to stop privatisation of sanitation work. Team assured A release by the CPI(M) stated that Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia accepted the memorandum and assured the team that he would consider their demands. Speaking to the crowd, Ms. Karat said, “We will not stop this struggle until we get justice for our brave workers who go into the sewers.”

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