Question

Existence of Manual Scavenging in the 21st century is a disgrace on the Indian society. Discuss the various measures that the government has taken in this regard. Also, discuss why technology is not just enough to solve the problem of Manual scavenging?

Answer 1

Manual scavenging is described by the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 as “manually cleaning, carrying, disposing of, or otherwise handling in any manner, human excreta from the insanitary latrines.The Socio-Economic Caste Census of 2011 counted over 1.82 lakh families that had at least one member employed in manual scavenging.

Manual scavenging as disgrace to Indian Society:
People are made to carry out manual scavenging in two basic forms

• The cleaning of dry latrines, and the cleaning of sewers and septic tanks. Both are illegal under the Manual Scavenging Act.
• In the first case, it is casteist attitudes which enforce people into carrying out this labour and then perpetuate their exploitation. It is the violation of human rights available to every Citizen.
• In the second, it is an urban mess coupled with ignorance, lack of awareness or deliberate disregard for the law which makes people carry out this work. This category is often rationalised with the logic of demand and supply. Even after the presence of law,such practices are conducted..

Measures by the government:

1. Enactment of Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013" (MS Act, 2013) : It aims at complete elimination of manual scavenging in its various manifestations and comprehensive rehabilitation of the identified manual scavengers.
2. Self- Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of identified manual scavengers under which one time cash assistance, skill development training and loan subsidy are provided for rehabilitation of identified manual scavengers one time cash assistance of Rs.40000/-
3. National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC) : has held a number of awareness camps to motivate the manual scavengers and their dependents to undertake skill development training so that they are suitably equipped for employment on a sustainable basis or start their self-employment ventures.

Technology is not just enough to solve the problem of Manual scavenging:

1. The technology is still complex and costly to operate and requires steady maintenance. For now, it seems more likely that under skilled and cash strapped municipalities will continue to rely on “the cheaper version”: an unorganised labour force whose lives are locked into dealing with waste.
2. The machines to clean sewers and septic tanks are already available globally, but they need to be adapted to Indian conditions, and the government needs to show the political will to actually use the technology on the ground on a large scale.
3. neither contractors nor municipalities are providing the equipment and logistical and medical support mandated by the law Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013" (MS Act, 2013)

Way Forward:

1. To eradicate the manual scavenging on a time bound basis for which the State Governments have been urged to implement the provisions of the MS Act, 2013 in letter and spirit.
2. Along with the prohibition of manual Scavenging , there is a requirement for rehabilitation of Manual Scavenger.