Maids Deemed Too Pure for Toilets Hinder ‘Clean India’ Push
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At about 9:00 a.m. each day, Sudha Devi walks up to a gated house in India’s capital, removes her shoes and heads inside. She’s under strict orders: Don’t touch anything but the toilet.
Immediately after Devi’s done cleaning, a housekeeper of a higher social rank scrubs down the entire house. As a member of the Dalit caste once known as “untouchables,” Devi is used to handling messes other Indian maids won’t go near. While those housekeepers earn about $100 (6,300 rupees) a month, Devi makes about 10 rupees per toilet.