In contemporary times, one of the worst forms of regression, a practice that leaves us appalled, is manual scavenging. What could possibly be a more gruesome form of human exploitation than compelling people belonging to a certain community to engage themselves in cleaning human excreta with their own hands for a living? In India, it is usually people belonging to the Dalit community who constitute the largest population of manual scavengers.

This is a ruthless form of caste discrimination. One of the worst known cases in recent times was in Gundlur village of Doddabalapur taluk in Karnataka where a group of around 30 men from poor families were forced to dump excreta in the landfillThey were not given gloves or footwear and werecompelled to handle the filth with their bare hands.

The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act,1993, has been in force for the last 14 years but the law enforcement machinery has not been effective when it comes to implementation of the same. A substantial budget of Rs 400 crore was allotted to them but no significant result has been seen.

The practice of dry latrines continues in about 256 districts in India engaging around 6.5 crore people, contrary to the official report which claims that there are no more than 3.5 lakh people involved in this caste-based occupation.

Apart from robbing people of their dignity, manual scavenging is major hazard to health. Most of the time they are not given proper hand gear to clean up the filth. As a result they contract various kinds of diseases. Neither their employers nor the Government provides them an insurance policy.

On the other hand, the disease that we talk of in this context is not just physical but also mental. The oppressors have corroded their mindset to such an extent that they have almost given up on the thought of being accepted into mainstream society.

Thus manual scavengers are victimised thrice over: Firstly, they arespurned by humanity at large, secondly they are cast aside as Dalits for all their lives, and thirdly they sacrifice their health and happiness.

Their children too are not allowed to attend schools patronised by people of the higher castes, resulting in an absolute lack of social mobility through generations.

The Safai Karmachari Andolan is an organisation that endeavours to ensure a more dignified life if adequate employment opportunities are given to this section of society as part of its rehabilitation programme. The supporters of this movement, despite their honest attempt to make a difference could hardly taste success when officials of various states refused to respond to their plea or PILs (Public Interest Litigation) as a consequence of Government apathy. The Andolan’s founder and convenor Wilson Bezwada did not sound hopeful in a recent interview published in Firstpost , a web-only English magazine.

Bezwada wants the act to be seen as a legal provision more than as one backed by a sense of ‘morality’ alone to make it more effective. “This problem is linked with untouchability. Therefore, you need a strong law that prohibits it. Only then can you challenge the practice, it cannot be done on the grounds of charity or favour. It is the duty of the public servant to implement the law,” he says.

The main aim should be to completely eradicate the social malpractice than to bring in a few reforms. Though progress is very slow, Bezwada nurtures some hope of a brighter future.

A number of educational institutes in India have taken this up as a challenge to abolish manual scavenging completely through campaigns and petitions. TV shows like Aamir Khan’s “Satyamev Jayate” too have made noteworthy contributions in this regard. It was based on data collected from this show that the Maharashtra chief minister took this issue up in the assembly.

Thus with some effort on our part and help from the Government, manual scavenging can be completely eradicated.

(Oindrila is a student of ACJ, Chennai.)

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