Manual Scavenging
Abstract:
Manual scavenging, one of the most abominable realities that exist in the country today is defined as “the practice of manually cleaning, carrying, disposing or handling in any manner, human excreta from dry latrines and sewers”. The excreta are piled into baskets which scavengers carry on their heads to locations that are several kilometers away from the latrines. Manual scavenging, today, continues in parts of India where there are no proper sewage systems or safe fecal sludge management practices. For a country that is seven decades into its independence, it is a tragedy that a section of its population still earns its living by cleaning human feces. It is painful to even imagine the exploitation and humiliation that manual scavengers are subjected to. The right to be free from manual scavenging is an economic, social, and cultural right. Over the years, various movements and organizations have been established to abolish this despicable practice, including an Act. What is shocking, however, is that there is no proper data available on the issue, and whatever official statistics are available contradict each other. According to a report in The Indian Express, the inter-ministerial task force in 2018 accounted for a whopping number of 53,000 manual scavengers in India; this was four times greater than the last survey conducted in 2017. Moreover, this number accounts for only 121 districts out of the total 600 plus in the country. There is no clarity as to what constitutes being considered a manual scavenger in the eyes of the government. This makes the problem even more complex.
Data:
In a reply to a question in Parliament, the government said that there is no report of people currently engaged in manual scavenging and no death has been reported due to the practice in five years. The government carried out two surveys in 2013 and 2018 for the identification of manual scavengers and that is the latest data we have. According to the Census (2011), there are 26 lakh dry latrines and as of 2017, only 13,384 manual scavengers had been identified by the government. In the latest reply to a question in Parliament, the Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment revealed that 66,692 manual scavengers have been counted and the majority are from Uttar Pradesh. Assessments from civil society reveal that the numbers are much higher. Moreover, when questioned about what steps the government had taken to replace manual scavenging by machines, it said that since the practice has been banned, the question does not arise. According to some well-researched media reports, the Indian Railways, the army, and urban municipalities remain the biggest bodies that still have workers engaged in manual scavenging. They either find ways to outsource such work to contractors so as not to be held directly accountable or liable or simply misrepresent such workers as “sweepers”. The government scheme provides for one-time cash assistance of Rs 40,000, skill development training, and capital subsidy for self-employed projects. But the lack of a reliable database makes these efforts futile. The diminishing government support was also evidenced in the 2021 budget — the rehabilitation fund was trimmed.
My opinion:
MS is a very serious issue/practice still prevalent in our country, we know this, we have heard and studied about this topic for decades but the sad part is that there is still no change at the ground level. MS is banned by the SC still people are going into the manholes cleaning other people's shit just to earn their daily wages. Is this the kind of India we really want? which is divided by a pathetical caste system that suppresses other strata of people, just because they are born so-called untouchables. Throughout our history, we have undergone profound changes in power dynamics and political ideals that have transformed individual lives. But the modernizing forces have been deeply biased. Caste is an overbearing reality. It is not simply a tag of identity but dictates a way of life. It continues to reinforce inequality as a basic value and the allocation of labor is one of its prime manifestations. Caste hierarchy reinforces occupational hierarchy and the idea of occupational purity embedded in the lives of individuals. Dalits often face discrimination when seeking employment in sectors that are considered “pure”. Cleaning dry latrines, for instance, is a job that the Dalit classes have been burdened with. According to government data, 97 percent of manual scavengers are Dalits. These statistics are disturbing, a reminder of our collective failure to rise above caste lines and provide dignity of labor to all. These numbers also beg the question: Would manual scavenging still exist if it was not relegated to Dalits? Work is fundamental to how we realize our destiny in this world; to provide economically for oneself and one’s family is central to dignity — a lack of it leads to alienation and stunted human growth. Dalits are expected to clean dry latrines, carry loads of human excrement, and clear sewage for little or no income. They are trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty and social exclusion. Even when manual scavengers get an education and a degree, the burden of caste is heavy. Ambedkar had observed that “In India, a man is not a scavenger because of his work. He is a scavenger because of his birth irrespective of the question whether he does scavenging or not”. Caste-based prejudice has been normalized to such an extent that the plight of manual scavengers does not get the attention that it deserves. Both the central and state governments are notorious for enshrouding the problem. There has always been an attempt to fudge the data, and contradictions are found in government data itself. It is important to understand that this is not just a problem of technology or financial assistance but also of social prejudice. The state must accept the role of caste and should actively solve it. Manual scavenging in the 21st century sounds like an abhorrent alarm about caste domination. The failure to acknowledge it is deplorable. We must show impatience and a sense of urgency. Equality, the dignity of labor, and justice have waited for too long. Yes, it is true, "Not all Dalits are manual scavengers but every manual scavenger is a Dalit."
Related links:
1)https://barti.in/upload/pdf/Manual_Scavenging_report.pdf
2)https://idsn.org/key-issues/manual-scavenging/
3)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7DfnI0nDUo&list=WL&index=5