Sanitation workers in India, usually belonging to the most vulnerable and marginalized caste groups and communities, had already been facing several challenges including health risks, low and irregular wages, financial struggles, societal discrimination, and lack of access to social security measures. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in additional struggles for them, as some of them were required to continue work on the frontline even during the lockdown. On the other hand, those who were engaged in informal work, such as cleaning of dry latrines, and rag/waste picking, lost their livelihoods and faced severe financial distress and hunger.
Mander, H., Kumbhare, S., Bhattacharya, A., Chanchani, M. (2020). Addressing the additional challenges of Manual Scavengers and Sanitation Workers during the Pandemic Centre of Equity Studies, Safai Karamchari Andolan, WaterAid India, European Commission
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