Despite being a banned by law, manual scavenging continues to thrive in India and take lives. 2017 alone has witnessed the death of over 45 people due to exposure to deadly toxins from sewers. While much has not changed on ground for manual scavengers in the three years of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the recent spate of deaths seems to have again raised questions about why this practice, banned by law, still thrives?