Four deployed to clear waste from Kovai manhole :Manual Scavenging

In Coimbatore, officials deployed four manual scavengers to clean manholes without safety gear, violating the Supreme Court and government bans on manual scavenging. The workers, paid ₹550 per day, entered the drains unprotected while officials wore surgical masks. Following public and activist outcry, the officials provided gloves, boots, and masks, photographing the workers for documentation. The incident sparked widespread condemnation. Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) Commissioner M. Sivaguru Prabakaran announced an inquiry to determine if workers were clearing stormwater drains or sewage drains, emphasizing that only external waste removal is permitted. He assured action against those responsible for the illegal deployment. The event highlighted ongoing disregard for laws and worker safety in manual scavenging practices.