Narrator: This man is diving into a sewer filled
with toxic waste to unclog pipes.
It's one of the deadliest jobs in all of South Asia.
In India, Parmeshwar Kumar has been doing this job
for 36 years.
This kind of work is technically illegal here,
but many say they have no other option.
Narrator: They're stuck in these jobs partly
because they're Dalit, the lowest Hindu caste.
But that class system was outlawed more than 70 years ago
in India.
So why are Dalits still stuck in some of the dirtiest
and riskiest jobs in the world?
Every day starts the same way for Parmeshwar.
He gets ready for work and prays to the gods.
Narrator: He gathers his tools and heads out for the day.
He already has a list of customers who need his services.
Today's drain is trickier, because the government
has sealed off the sewer entrance.
So he has to hammer through the cement
to reach the blockage.
If he can't reach it with the bamboo stick or metal rod,
he has to climb down himself.
That's the most dangerous part of his day.
A lot can go wrong when he's down there.
Narrator: It takes Parmeshwar about two hours
to fix a clogged sewer.
Plastic bags, hair, and anything else that's thrown
down the drains can get stuck in the pipes.
More than 5,000 miles of sewer lines stretch
across the capital and surrounding areas.
They're poorly maintained and falling apart.
Because it's so dangerous,
the Indian government banned
this kind of work in 2013,
but it's still happening today.
Narrator: Research has shown 80% of Indian sewage workers
die before the age of 60 because of health problems.
One time, Parmeshwar thought he would be next.
He got stuck inside of a clogged pipe.
Narrator: Parmeshwar's skin is also fully exposed.
He doesn't wear much to protect himself
because he can't afford it.
Narrator: And he's gotten hurt at work.
Narrator: He used to work for the government,
but it didn't pay well.
So nowadays he relies on referrals.
Narrator: He gets about five jobs a month,
bringing in 12,000 rupees.
That's about $150.
Narrator: Parmeshwar is Dalit,
which means he's at the very bottom
of the Hindu caste system.
For centuries, people like him were treated like outcasts,
forced to work in the least desirable jobs,
like cleaning sewers and picking trash.
India's caste system was officially abolished in 1950,
but Dalits, who make up 25% of the population, are still stuck
in risky jobs like these.
They are considered so impure that they're not allowed
to share the same space as people of higher castes.
Narrator: And the stigma persists
even in neighboring Pakistan,
where Hinduism is not the predominant religion.
Some have even converted to Christianity
to try and escape the cycle,
but it hasn't helped.
Anil and Raju team up when they dive into Karachi sewers.
Narrator: They work in Pakistan's largest city,
which has 20 million people.
That means there's a lot of sewage, almost 2 billion liters.
Narrator: And they've come up with techniques to test
whether a gutter is too dangerous to enter.
Narrator: The gases include hydrogen sulfide, methane,
and ammonia.
They're poisonous and explosive.
Just last year, 12 people were killed when a blast ripped
through the sewage system in Karachi.
Officials believe it was caused by a buildup of methane.
Narrator: The busiest time for cleaners is usually June
to September, when the city is hit with monsoon rains.
Narrator: After five years of cleaning sewers day and night,
Anil is jaded to the dangers of his job.
Narrator: In Pakistan, this kind of work is still legal.
But back in India,
the federal government is trying to get rid
of this risky business altogether.
Narrator: But some streets in these old neighborhoods
are too narrow for the machines,
and people here say they can't wait
for the government to show up.
That's why thousands of workers
like Parmeshwar still have a job.
He keeps diving inside, even though police can arrest him.
But this work is wearing him down.
Narrator: At the end of the day,
he unwinds with his wife and three children.
They want him to quit, because they've seen him suffer.
Narrator: His wife, Bhumika,
is also tired of the discrimination.
Narrator: But Parmeshwar says he has no other choice.
Narrator: Both of them know one thing for sure.
They want different lives for their kids.