DASAM slams government over manual scavenging deaths
seeks FIRs, Rs. 30 lakh compensation for victims’ families
New Delhi: The Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikar Manch (DASAM) has strongly criticised the government over the continued deaths of manual scavengers in the country, calling it a "deep failure to protect the most vulnerable members of society."
In a statement issued on Monday, DASAM demanded immediate registration of FIRs and independent judicial inquiries into all manual scavenging-related deaths. The organisation said that despite official claims of eradicating the practice, workers continue to die inside sewers and septic tanks due to institutional neglect and caste-based discrimination.
Citing government and independent reports, DASAM stated that 116 manual scavengers died in 2024, and in just the first six months of 2025, 42 more deaths have been reported—bringing the total to 158 in under two years. These deaths were reported across states including Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha.
“Despite the legal framework under the 2013 Act and the Supreme Court’s directions, these preventable deaths are continuing due to systemic failures,” DASAM said.
The group has called for a minimum compensation of Rs. 30 lakh to families of the deceased, and Rs. 20 lakh for those who suffer disabilities. It also demanded comprehensive rehabilitation packages covering housing, healthcare, education, and employment for dependents.
DASAM further called for a nationwide audit of sanitation work, a ban on subcontracting to unregulated intermediaries, and stringent legal action against those violating the Supreme Court’s orders and the 2013 law.
“All deaths must be investigated under relevant provisions, including The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 and The SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989,” the statement said, urging that all findings be made public and accountability fixed at every level.
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Austrian police detain suspect in case of rat poison found in baby food jars on supermarket shelves
Vienna (AP): Police in eastern Austria say a 39-year-old suspect has been arrested after rat poison turned up in some HiPP baby food jars on supermarket shelves in central Europe.
HiPP, which recalled some of its baby food jars in Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic after the case came to light last month, said in a statement Saturday it was “greatly relieved” by the arrest, and would provide further updates as verified details come in.
The Burgenland State Criminal Police Office, under the direction of prosecutors, said a probe was launched after poison turned up in a baby food jar purchased at a supermarket in the city of Eisenstadt on April 18.
It said the suspect was being questioned, and that no further details would be immediately provided. The Burgenland public prosecutor's office has announced an investigation into suspected “intentional endangerment of the public.”
The Austrian Press Agency reported that an expert report on the toxicity of the poison was pending. A total of five tampered baby food jars were seized before they could be consumed, APA reported.
Authorities said previously they believe the tampering occurred in 190-gram (6.7-ounce) jars of baby food made with carrots and potatoes for 5-month-olds that were sold from SPAR supermarkets in Austria.
HiPP responded by recalling all of its baby food jars sold at SPAR supermarkets — which include SPAR, EUROSPAR, INTERSPAR and Maximarkt stores — in Austria as a precaution. Vendors in Slovakia and the Czech Republic also removed all of the brand's baby jars from sale.
The company said the recall was not due to any product or quality defect on its part, and said the jars left its facility in “perfect condition.”
Police said a customer at the time of the discovery had reported that a jar appeared to have been tampered with, but no one had consumed the baby food.
