The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on Monday said that the man, who died on October 21 while working inside a Delhi Jal Board (DJB) sewage pumping station tank in north-west Delhi, was not provided prescribed safety gear.
It said only mask and safety belt were provided to Dooman Ray, a 32-year-old man from Bihar’s Katihar, who died inside the tank in Jahangirpuri.
The prescribed manpower, including doctor with ambulance, and safety gears were not provided at the time of the accident, which shows a clear violation of provision of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, the Ministry said in a statement.
It said not providing the adequate safety gear also violated a Supreme Court order dated February 27.
The National Human Rights Commission of India on October 22 had sent notices to the Centre and the Delhi government over Ray’s death. On Monday, the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) sought a report from the Delhi government, the police and other authorities on the death.
On October 24, the police said they have arrested three men, including the project manager and safety officer, for alleged negligence in connection with Ray’s death. The three men have been sent to judicial custody.
The police said they would question senior officers of Spun India Ltd, the contactor firm hired by the DJB.
An NCSK team, accompanied by District Magistrate (North Zone), Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, SDM of Jahangirpuri, officials from the DJB recently visited the site of the accident.
The NCSK has asked the District Magistrateto release ₹10 lakh as compensation to Ray’s family.
