NHRC seeks report on death of sanitation workers in Odisha

The National Human Rights Commission on Friday directed the secretary of the Labour and Employment Department, and district magistrate of Angul to submit a report regarding the death of two workers while cleaning a septic tank in Odisha last year.

The Commission has set a deadline of 1 September for the submission of the report.

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The matter pertains to the tragic deaths of two men, Raghu Hansda (28) and Medha Nag (31), both residents of Redham village in Mayurbhanj district, who died on 13 September 2024 while cleaning a septic tank in Nuahata village under Banarpal police station, Angul district. The complaint was lodged by Mr. Akhand, Orissa High Court lawyer and a human rights activist.

The complainant had cited the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in Safai Karamchari Andolan vs Union of India (2014) which outlawed manual scavenging and mandated compensation of Rs. 10 lakh for each death occurring during such hazardous work.

However, the District Magistrate of Angul, in his earlier report dated 3 December 2024, informed that the deceased were not manual scavengers but were engaged as masons for private house construction. It was further reported that their families had been given Rs. 10,000 from the Red Cross and Rs. 3,000 under the Harishchandra Sahayata Yojana as immediate assistance.

After examining the report, the NHRC observed that the report is incomplete, as it makes no mention of any action taken under the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Welfare Board’s accidental death benefit scheme. The Commission reminded the authorities that the scheme provides financial assistance to registered construction workers in the event of both natural and accidental deaths.

The NHRC has now asked both the Principal Secretary, Labour and Employment Department and the District Magistrate, Angul to submit a comprehensive report addressing this key aspect, including whether the deceased workers were registered with the Odisha Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board and whether their families have been provided or considered for any such benefits.