November 2024 Bridging the gap: Social protection and livelihoods support for Tamil Nadu sanitation workers Maran Thangavel, Harsha Joseph, Saran Kumar, Govindaraj Raaju V. and Kanika Singh
Eswari, a former sanitation worker, now proudly runs a mop yarn unit. Image: Vizhuthugal
In the heart of Tamil Nadu, sanitation workers like Poongiammal have endured harsh working conditions and societal discrimination for decades. Despite policies in place, these workers often lack access to essential services, fair wages, and safe environments. Through the dedicated efforts of Vizhuthugal, an NGO advocating for sanitation workers’ rights, change is taking root. From helping workers claim compensation to enabling pathways to new livelihoods, Vizhuthugal is breaking the cycle of poverty and stigma. Dive into their journey of resilience and empowerment in this eye-opening story.
In the bustling streets of India, sanitation workers like 52-year-old Poongiammal have struggled for decades. Belonging to the Arunthatiyar community, she works as a manual scavenger in the Erode district of Tamil Nadu. She and other workers like her clean up human excreta, sewage, or other waste materials with their bare hands or very basic tools. Often working in hazardous conditions, without protective gear or safety equipment, they are exposed to many harmful diseases. Members of her community are considered to be ‘low’ caste and so face lifelong discrimination. The majority of these sanitation workers are sub-contracted, receive irregular wages and are forced to live in undignified conditions in slums that lack basic amenities.
Despite numerous legal provisions and policies in support of sanitation workers, systemic gaps in their implementation serve to maintain the socio-economic marginalisation and deprivation of these workers. Coming from low-income and disadvantaged backgrounds, usually they do not know about relevant government schemes and laws and lack the confidence to raise any issues they may have with the authorities.
Poongiammal’s husband, who was also engaged in this hazardous occupation, tragically passed away at work last year. This is just one of the many incidents of life-limiting health problems and fatalities resulting from the unsafe and inhumane nature of manual scavenging. Desperate for financial assistance, she reached out to the NGO Vizhuthugal for help. Founded in 1992, this organization works for the rights and empowerment of informal workers in Tamil Nadu. With their support, she wrote to the state and district officials, requesting compensation, and received assistance in the form of a payment of USD 298.
For more than 20 years, Vizhuthugal has helped manual scavengers and their families to claim their rights and entitlements, and transition to other sources of livelihood. Between 2022 and 2024, they received USD 21,162 from the Initiative for Sanitation Workers to help advance their programmes in support of sanitation workers in three towns in the districts of Tirupur and Erode.
Empowering workers to demand their rights and entitlements
With this support, Vizhuthugal has organized monthly awareness meetings for sanitation workers. More than 1,700 households in the different locations are now familiar with the policy provisions around livelihood support, loans, educational scholarships, pensions, and insurance.
The organization has also facilitated consultation meetings with government officials, where sanitation workers can put forward their grievances. Initially, this was challenging as very few officials would turn up at these meetings, however, continued efforts have slowly resulted in government accountability and support.
Community members now feel confident in raising their concerns around housing, low and irregular wages, compensation, and other issues. "I didn't know we had the right to get compensation for workplace accidents. Now I feel reassured to demand fair treatment in the event of mishap at work”, says a private toilet cleaner. “Through our collective efforts, we were able to convince the authorities to set up more community toilets in our area”, says another worker.
Breaking the inter-generational cycle
Eswari worked as a contractual sanitation worker for 15 years. With Vizhuthugal’s support through entrepreneurship training and financial linkages, she started a small business producing mop yarns using textile waste. Similarly, more than 300 manual scavengers have transitioned to safer and more dignified occupations, such as tailoring, food stalls, and driving.
The journey continues
Despite these achievements, there’s still a long way to go. Vizhuthugal hopes that their advocacy will help in ensuring adequate and timely wages for workers, and mainstreaming women’s issues such as menstrual health and working hours. They are also working towards forming a federation of sanitation workers, which will help them to negotiate for their rights and entitlements and build collective livelihoods.
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Call to Action for Donors and Development Partners Vizhuthugal’s mission is simple yet powerful—to secure safe and dignified working conditions for Tamil Nadu’s sanitation workers, providing them with the support they need to break free from hazardous labor and pursue sustainable livelihoods. But to continue this vital work, we need your help. Vizhuthugal invites financial support and collaborations for their mission to support safe and dignified conditions for sanitation workers. Please reach out to vizhuthugal@yahoo.co.in for more details. |
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This article is part of a series which highlights the learnings from sanitation workers’ mobilization and networking initiatives, supported by the Initiative for Sanitation Workers, across different countries. Read the other blogs here.
The blog is based on contributions by Maran Thangavel, Harsha Joseph, Saran Kumar, and Govindaraj Raaju V. of Vizhuthugal, and Kanika Singh, independent consultant.