Sanitation as Destiny: The Balmiki Community and Occupational Entrapment in Haryana

The Balmiki community, one of the most marginalized Scheduled Caste groups, continues to face systemic exclusion and caste-based discrimination. Historically, relegated to stigmatized occupations like manual scavenging, their over-representation in Group D government jobs underscores the persistence of caste hierarchies in the labour market. This study explores the socio-economic status of the Balmiki community, drawing on the recent report of the Haryana State Commission for Scheduled Castes and qualitative interviews with sanitation workers. Key themes, including generational occupational acceptance, institutional and political under-representation and social security challenges, reveal how deeply ingrained prejudices and systemic barriers hinder their upward mobility despite legislative measures, such as the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers Act (2013). Structural inequities persist, limiting access to education and dignified employment. The findings contribute to an understanding of caste-based inequality and inform strategies for achieving social justice.