The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a show-cause notice under Section 18 (a)(i) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, to the assistant commissioner of M East Ward, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The notice demands an explanation as to why compensation of Rs 50,000 should not be awarded to each manual scavenger for the violation of their human rights.

This action follows a complaint by an NGO and residents in April last year about manual scavenging and cleaning of nullahs in Govandi. Residents had submitted photographic evidence of male and female labourers unclogging drains and removing filth and entering a manhole without protective gear or gloves in Baiganwadi near Govandi.