Regulatory Gaps and Human Costs in Karnataka's Sanitation Work

In May 2025, Rangappa, an agricultural labourer who manually cleaned a septic pit in Tavarekere village, Karnataka, died after developing respiratory issues. Despite the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, many workers remain unidentified and lack access to statutory benefits like cash assistance and skill training. The articles highlight systemic regulatory gaps and the ongoing human costs faced by sanitation workers in the state.