State’s Apathy
In a tragic incident in May 2019, two people were killed due to manual scavenging in Bhagya Vihar, Delhi. On 7th May 2019, five informal workers were made to clean the septic tank of a private household where two workers died due to asphyxiation and three workers were left severely injured. One of the workers, Sher Singh, was left critically injured in the incident. Sher Singh was a Dalit migrant worker from Uttar Pradesh and worked as a daily wage labourer. For many hours he lay unconscious inside the septic tank and the exposure to poisonous gasses caused grievous harm to his health. He was later diagnosed with Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B and many other life-threatening diseases.

Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikar Manch (DASAM) conducted a fact-finding of the case and found that Sher Singh had not received any compensation from the government. DASAM continuously approached the government to avail medical help for Sher Singh but did not get any appropriate help from the government agencies. Through the help and contribution of many like-minded individuals, DASAM was able to raise crowdfunds to support the medical expenses of Sher Singh over the years.

While battling with illness, Sher Singh’s wife Soni had to leave her job to take care of his bedridden husband. Her eldest son had to leave education at the age of 15 and took up informal work to sustain his family. Not only this, Soni and her son have been diagnosed with Tuberculosis due to being in direct contact with Sher Singh. Sher Singh and Soni have three school-going daughters who are diagnosed with various illnesses due to a lack of proper nutrition and sanitation facilities in the household.

On 8 June 2024, after battling for his life for five years Sher Singh passed away.

While grieving the loss of their husband and father, the family has been struck by another tragedy caused due to the same incident. Sher Singh’s eldest son, is in a critical condition and is admitted in Lala Ram Saroop T.B. Hospital, New Delhi as he is not responding to medications. The burden of sustaining his family by doing daily wage work and taking care of his ailing father caused his health to deteriorate. The doctors state that his Tuberculosis has gotten worse and he has to be admitted in the hospital for the next five to six weeks.

DASAM condemns the state’s inaction towards banning the practice of manual scavenging and not taking measures to rehabilitate the families of victims.

During this time of need, Soni requires immediate monetary aid for medical expenses and to sustain her children. DASAM appeals to you all to contribute to help Soni for the medical expenses of her son’s treatment. You can directly make your contribution to Soni. The following are her bank details:

Name: Soni Singh
Account No: 42568100015189
IFSC Code: BARB0MIANWA (Fifth character is zero)
Branch Name: Mianwali Nagar, Delhi
Bank Name: Bank of Baroda
Soni Singh: +91 8882345097

Sanjeev Kumar
AdhikarManch (DASAM) Dalit Adivasi Shakti
[Please share the details of your contribution to dashaktimanch@gmail.com
For more information please contact Sanjeev Kumar (9958797409), Ashok Kumar Taank (7065721374), VasundharaJhobta (8626959948)]

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Frontier
Vol 57, No. 8, Aug 18 - 24, 2024