Manual Scavenging

Intro

Imposed on certain section of society, continued as traditional occupation

Exists primarily due to absence of water borne laterines

Violation of Fundamental Right Under Article 17

Concerns

Exposure to infections

Children dragged into the same profession

Social stigma of untouchability continues to stick;
Can't take up new occupation

Govt. Initiatives

Conversion of dry latrines into pour flush ones

Providing alternate employement

Provising financial assistance

Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Rehabilitation Act, 2013

Eliminate insanitary latrines

Prohibit manual scavenging and manual cleaning of sewer and septic tanks

Survey of manual scavengers and their rehabilitation

Associating with NGOs to identify and rehabilitate

Providing assistance under schemes like SBM(G), SBM(U) to build sanitary latrines

Scholarship to children of manual scavengers by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

Problems faced in elimination

No time bound identification of insanitary latrines and manual scavengers

Incorrect reporting by States/UTs of their existence due to fear of contempt of court

Slow rehabilitation limited by illiteracy, age, confidence, skill training of scavengers

Banks are hesitant in providing loans, low recovery rate

Want to continue in similar job in local authorities

Way forward

National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation, an apex Corporation for the socio-economic development of safai karamcharis and manual scavengers and their dependents is the nodal agency of Government of India for rehabilitation of the identified manual scavengers and their dependents.

Fast adoption of programmes

Camp based model for training

Awareness about govt. schemes

Deaths during job

All sections of society - people, govt., judiciary must come together