New Delhi- The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) on July 9, initiated a formal investigation into the alleged diversion of sewage water into Dalit settlements in Jaswantgadh village of Amreli district. This action comes weeks after The Mooknayak's report published on June 25, brought national attention to what activists are calling "sanitation apartheid" - where upper-caste residents have systematically directed their household waste into Dalit neighborhoods.

The NCSC, acting on a petition filed by T. Immanuvel Dinakaran, former State Co-Incharge of BJP Tamil Nadu Minority Morcha, has issued notices to the Amreli District Collector, District Development Officer, and Gujarat's Scheduled Caste Welfare Department. The constitutional body has demanded a comprehensive Action Taken Report within 15 days, warning of summons under Article 338 of the Constitution for non-compliance. This intervention marks a crucial escalation in a case that exposes the intersection of caste oppression and civic neglect.

The controversy stems from a deliberate redirection of sewage infrastructure in Jaswantgadh village. The issue was first reported by a local media Khabarantar. The report revealed that upper-caste households have connected their underground drainage systems to an open monsoon drain meant exclusively for rainwater runoff near Dr. Ambedkar Colony. This illegal modification has resulted in the continuous flooding of Dalit homes with fecal matter and household waste, creating what residents describe as "a permanent swamp of humiliation."  The proximity of an Anganwadi center to the contaminated drain has raised particular alarm, with long-term developmental risks for young children exposed to such unsanitary conditions. Local health workers report an unprecedented mosquito infestation. The situation has persisted despite multiple complaints to local authorities, including the Gram Panchayat, Taluka Panchayat, and District Administration.

Social activist Kirit Rathod, who first documented the crisis, explains, "This isn't just about poor drainage - it's a calculated form of caste oppression. By forcing Dalit families to live in these conditions, the upper castes are reinforcing untouchability through infrastructure." 

Legal experts highlight multiple violations in the case. Apart from clear breaches of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the situation constitutes a violation of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution. Environmental lawyers point to contraventions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, while public health advocates stress non-compliance with National Rural Health Mission guidelines.