Inframundo
Arturo López Illana
One of the most disadvantaged castes in India is the Valmiki. This community is dedicated almost exclusively to cleaning latrines and sewers, a job they do without protection, using only their hands and a bucket, making it one of the most dangerous jobs in the country.
It is estimated that approximately every five days, one of these workers dies from diseases such as cholera, hepatitis, meningitis, typhoid, and cardiovascular problems. Repeated unprotected handling of human excrement causes respiratory and skin diseases, anemia, jaundice, trachoma, and carbon monoxide poisoning.
According to a Human Rights Watch report published in 2014, at least 300,000 families in India belong to this caste of untouchables.
