Maharashtra Government to Compensate Families of Deceased and Disabled Sanitation Workers
Mumbai, 2nd May 2025: In a landmark decision, the Maharashtra government has announced that it will provide appropriate compensation to sanitation workers who suffered disabilities while cleaning sewers, drains, and ponds, as well as to the families of those who lost their lives in the line of duty.
The Social Justice and Special Assistance Department recently issued a government resolution directing authorities to identify victims of such incidents dating back to 1993 and ensure compensation is paid. This comes after the 2023 Supreme Court ruling in Balram Singh vs Union of India, which mandated compensation of ₹30 lakh to the next of kin of deceased sanitation workers, ₹20 lakh in cases of permanent disability, and ₹10 lakh for other disabilities.
Between 1993 and 2024, 56 sanitation workers reportedly died while on duty in Maharashtra. However, only the families of 19 victims have received compensation so far, amounting to ₹10 lakh each. The state now aims to trace the remaining cases and ensure that all eligible heirs, including those of regular, contractual, and daily-wage workers, are compensated accordingly.
A social survey conducted by the Maharashtra State Social Audit and Transparency Society between 2021 and 2024, across five districts, had revealed significant lapses in disbursing compensation to the families of deceased sanitation workers.
The new directive also outlines the responsibilities of district collectors in enforcing the compensation policy. Authorities such as municipal commissioners, chief officers, zilla parishad executives, managing directors of factories, and contractors of housing societies are held accountable. In case of non-compliance by private landowners or housing projects, district collectors have been empowered to recover the compensation amounts.
Notably, Scheduled Caste employees make up nearly 67% of the state’s sanitation workforce, further underlining the social justice implications of this move.
