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Paper short abstract:

This paper examines the impact of COVID-19 on sanitation and waste workers in Delhi, highlighting how historical casteism and current policies intersect to perpetuate their precarity, which were further exacerbated during the pandemic.

Paper long abstract:

The Last of Frontline Workers: Casteism and Precarity Among Sanitation and Waste Workers in Delhi

With the coming of Covid-19 pandemic, there was an ‘apparent’ change in the way sanitation workers and waste workers were perceived. Many of them were greeted by applause and garlands. This palpable change in the societal attitude and them being referred as ‘frontline workers’ gave a ray of hope, that the pandemic might prove to be crucial in catalysing the reforms long needed in the realm of sanitation and waste management crisis. However, looking at the precarious conditions of the workers in the four last years, there is a little that has changed. The age-old relation of caste and sanitation and waste work continues to plague the present-day situation. If anything at all, the pandemic has further exposed the apathy of government institution and casteist societal attitude towards the workers. Given this, this paper examines the impact of COVID-19 on sanitation and waste workers in Delhi, highlighting how historical casteism and current policies intersect to perpetuate their precarity. Despite being labelled as frontline workers during the pandemic, these workers continue to face severe socio-economic challenges and caste-based discrimination.

Key words: Covid-19, caste, waste, sanitation work, frontline workers