Date : 29/07/2023

Relevance: GS Paper 2 - Social Justice

Keywords: Caste-based discrimination, hazardous occupation, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, NAMASTE Scheme, The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act 1993

Context -

• The Ministry of Social Justice reported that 530 districts across the country have declared themselves free of manual scavenging.
• However, several states and union territories, including Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Jharkhand, still have a significant number of districts where manual scavenging persists.

Tragic Statistics

• Over the past 29 years, 989 manual scavengers have lost their lives while cleaning underground sewage tanks, emphasizing the life-threatening nature of the profession.
• Efforts are being made to rehabilitate approximately 58,000 identified manual scavengers through government schemes that provide compensation, capital subsidies, and other benefits.
• The prevalence of manual scavenging is particularly high in states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Assam, Karnataka, and Rajasthan.

Causes of Continuation

• The deep-rooted practice of manual scavenging is primarily a result of caste-based discrimination. Data released by the government revealed that over 90% of identified manualscavengers belonged to Scheduled Caste communities.
• Additionally, poverty and lack of alternative livelihood options force individuals, especially women, to continue this hazardous occupation to sustain their families.
• The lack of modern machines for cleaning sewage systems forces workers to enter dangerous underground sewerage lines manually. Unskilled laborers are often hired illegally at lower wages, perpetuating the practice.

Effects of Manual Scavenging

• Health Hazards: Manual scavengers are exposed to human waste and hazardous substances, leading to high risks of contracting diseases and respiratory infections due to the absence of protective gear and poor sanitation conditions.
• Dignity and Human Rights Violations: Manual scavenging deprives individuals of their dignity, perpetuates social stigma, and reinforces caste-based oppression.
• Psychological and Emotional Trauma: Manual scavengers suffer from psychological distress due to the indignity of the work and the discrimination they face, leading to low self-esteem and depression.

Government Initiatives

Legislative Measures

• The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act 1993, imposes imprisonment and fines for engaging individuals in manual scavenging.
• The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, outlaws all forms of manual cleaning, carrying, disposing, or handling of human waste.

Executive Efforts

• The Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) 2017, which has been integrated into the NAMASTE Scheme in 2022.
• NAMASTE Scheme, envisioning identification of sewer/septic tank workers, occupational training, distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) kits, health insurance, livelihood assistance, and awareness campaigns.
• Establishment of District Sanitation Committees to identify insanitary latrines and manual scavengers and promote eradication efforts.
• Swachata mobile app, launched in 2016, to receive and examine complaints related to possible manual scavenging incidents.

Constitutional Safeguards

• The Constitution, through Article 21, guarantees the right to live with dignity.
• Article 46 further emphasizes the State's responsibility to protect weaker sections, particularly Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, from social injustice and exploitation.

Other efforts

• Supreme Court Directions: The Supreme Court has mandated compensation for families of manual scavengers who lost their lives while working in sewage systems since 1993.
• Rehabilitation Efforts: Various schemes offer one-time cash payouts, subsidies, and skill development programs to rehabilitate manual scavengers and eliminate deaths in sewer work.
• Technology-Driven Solutions: Embracing technology, such as automated sewer cleaning robots, can replace manual scavenging tasks and improve safety.
• Promoting Entrepreneurship and Skill Development: Offering vocational training in different fields can empower former manual scavengers to explore alternative livelihoods.
• Sanitation Infrastructure Upgrades: Investing in modern toilets, sewage treatment plants, and waste management systems will reduce the need for manual scavenging.

Challenges Faced

• Underreporting and lack of proper documentation hinder the detection and resolution of manual scavenging cases.
• Most cases come to light only after fatal incidents, particularly when workers die while cleaning septic tanks.
• Manual scavenging is prevalent in urban areas, where marginalized communities handle human and animal waste without adequate protective gear or technical support.
• The conviction rate for contractors involved in unsafe sewer cleaning is distressingly low, indicating a lack of accountability.

Measures Needed

• Procurement of machines for safe cleaning of sewer and septic tanks.
• Enhanced monitoring by local governments to prevent fatalities.
• Investment in bio-toilets to reduce the need for manual scavenging and increased funding for rehabilitation efforts.

Way Forward

• Integrate scientific maintenance of sewer tanks as a key objective of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to eliminate manual cleaning.
• Provide improved healthcare facilities, insurance cover, and pension plans for victims of manual scavenging.
• Enforce existing laws rigorously to eradicate manual scavenging completely.

Conclusion

Eradicating manual scavenging is a crucial step toward achieving social justice and upholding the dignity of all citizens. While the government has taken significant steps, comprehensive and sustained efforts are required to eliminate this inhumane practice. By addressing the root causes, providing viable alternatives, and enforcing stringent laws, India can move towards a future free from the scourge of manual scavenging.

Source -The Indian Express