Manual scavenging inhumane, people sent to gas chambers to die: SC

Apex court comes down hard on Centre, asks why no protective gear, oxygen cylinders to manual scavengers

Terming manual scavenging as “inhumane”, the Supreme Court on Wednesday came down heavily on the central government for failing to provide masks, oxygen cylinders and other protective gears to such workers. A two-judge Bench led by Justice Arun Mishra chided the government and said that nowhere in the world people are sent to "gas chambers to die".

“Why are you not providing masks and oxygen cylinders? In no country in the world, people are sent to gas chambers to die. Four to five people are dying due to this every month," said the three-judge Bench.

The apex court was hearing