Why does swach bharat not work for the emancipation of manual. It has been officially prohibited by law in 1993 due to it being regarded as a caste based, dehumanizing practice if not done in a safe manner. Bihar has over 3620 manual scavangers in 27 districts. It has been officially prohibited by law in 1993 due to it being regarded as a castebased, dehumanizing practice if. The census defines manual scavenger as someone who cleans a dry latrine or carries human waste to dispose it off. Manual scavenging is a caste, human dignity and a gender problem which many times is treated as a sanitation issue. Pdf status of manual scavengers liberation and rehabilitation in. Jun 25, 2017 but the number of manual scavengers identified by the states is just 7% of the households with at least a single member engaged in manual scavenging, according to census 2011. Prohibited, yet manual i n s i d e scavenging continues. Manual scavenging is a term used mainly in india for the manual removal of untreated human excreta from bucket toilets or pit latrines by hand with buckets and shovels. Manual scavenging wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Jul 23, 2016 although manual scavenging is prohibited in the country, as per the latest socioeconomic caste census data released in 2015, india still has 1,80,657 households that make a living from manual. Manual scavenging science project sanitation sewerage. October 2016 volume 8 issue 10 rs 15 i n s i d e its high time sanitation went beyond shame and stigma 3 prohibited, yet manual scavenging continues skin irritations, respiratory distresses and sometimes even death, it is a life of suffering for the cleaners of human filth.
Although manual scavenging is prohibited in the country, as per the latest socioeconomic caste census data released in 2015, india still has 1,80,657 households that make a living from manual. Maharashtra has the highest number of manual scavengers at 637. Karnataka, which has over 15,000 manual scavengers, recorded 60 deaths related to. Although manual scavenging, as this practice is known, is illegal in the country, the practice persists. Of the 28 states and seven union territories, the ncsk data has reported deaths from only states and uts. This shows the apathy of state governments and local authorities towards the practice. Rehabilitating former manual scavengers united nations india. After 25 years of broken promises, india is counting its manual scavengers. There are however inconsistencies in secc 2011 numbers reported in different sources. Activists say the new billthe prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012lacks teeth and clarity, and, therefore, it is. These include the census of governments, as well as other annual and quarterly surveys of government finance and employment. Unlike the existing law on manual scavenging enacted 20 years ago, the new proposed law also provides for rehabilitation of manual scavengers, but it still has many shortcomings. Despite progress, manual scavenging persists in india. According to the socioeconomic caste census 2011 data reveal that 1.
Pdf manual scavenging is a profession which has been in. Houselisting and housing census 2011 data released by the. The prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation act was passed which reinforces prohibiting manual scavenging in all forms and rehabilitating manual scavengers, identified through a mandatory survey. The swachh bharat abhiyaan sba which is a community led total sanitation program of the government of india has four major focus areas 1. International journal of latest engineering research and. Jun, 2016 a bill seeking to prohibit employment of individuals as manual scavengers by prescribing stringent punishment, including imprisonment up to five years, was passed by parliament on saturday. Implementation of the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers. But the number of manual scavengers identified by the states is just 7% of the households with at least a single member engaged in manual scavenging, according to census 2011.
It has been officially prohibited by law in 1993 due to it being regarded as a caste based, dehumanizing practice if. Labour conference in 2007, the manual scavenging issue was discussed under the application of ratified conventions. India was one of the countries included in this discussion under discrimination convention. Employing a person for manual scavenging in india is legally prohibited. A bill seeking to prohibit employment of individuals as manual scavengers by prescribing stringent punishment, including imprisonment up to five years, was passed by. Government on january 1, 2016 makes it a punishable offence to. Manual scavenging is linked to the presence of dryinsanitary latrines in the country. Indias problem with manual scavenging we cant change things just by passing a law. Looking at this dehumanizing practice of manual scavenging and failure of existing law, central government enacted a new law called the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation act, 20 on september 18, 20. Manual scavenging is a profession which has been in existence since the human civilization. Most septic tanks are emptied manually in indian cities.
After 25 years of broken promises, india is counting its. Government claims to have assisted 91% of indias manual. International dalit solidarity network end caste discrimination. April 2016 a dalit, or untouchable, cleans sewage from a manhole in india.
Government on january 1, 2016 makes it a punishable offence to employ. Present paper will critically analyze the past, present and future of manual scavenging in india. Employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines. Indias problem with manual scavenging we cant change. Manual scavenging, caste, and discrimination in india, human. There are 11 states where there are manual scavengers even today. Org prohibition of employment as manual scavengers. Since january 1, 2017, 123 people employed in manual scavenging lost their lives i. Socioeconomic and caste census secc released in 2015, states that there were around 18 million manual scavenging households in rural areas. Manual scavenging is the practice of manually cleaning, carrying, disposing or handling human and animal excreta from dry latrines, sewers and streets. Between 1993 and 20, no convictions were recorded for violation of the manual scavenging act. Census data available in the country on manual scavengers is not accurate.
Pdf manual scavenging a case of denied rights researchgate. Org prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation rules, 20 subject created date. According to the india census 2011, there are more than 2. This definition, like much of the discourse on manual scavenging in india, is centred upon dry latrine cleaning government of india 2014. It contains the statistical classification categories and definitions that are applicable to the census bureaus statistical programs covering government finances and public employment. Even though the practice is illegal in india, over 180,000 people are still employed as manual scavengers, the vast majority of whom are dalit women.
It also directed the central and the state governments to ensure the implementation of the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation act, 20. A government survey identifies 12,226 manual scavengers in 12 states. The survey has had a low turnout so far because of poor advertising and the insistence on proof, alleges an ngo working in the field. Section 2 1 g of the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation act. Oct 12, 2019 the socioeconomic caste census of 2011 counted over 1. Both central and state governments are taking many initiatives to rehabilitate the manual scavengers, with alternative employment but still manual scavenging is prevalent in and around the nation. This is a whopping 86% of all manual scavengers in the country. The current laws had not proved adequate in eliminating the twin evils of insanitary latrines and manual scavenging. However, the number of persons still engaged in manual scavenging is not available. Rights groups safai karamchari andolan pegs the number of manual scavengers across india at over 7 lakh. According to the official 2011 census, dalits constitute.
Manual scavenging is a castebased occupation for dalits. Maharashtra, for instance, has been saying this for years on end but when the caste and economic census took place, it turned out that nearly 50,000 people in maharashtra are working as manual scavengers. The socioeconomic caste census of 2011 counted over 1. Chapteriv welfare and rehabilitation of manual scavengers. Mar 24, 2018 manual scavenging survey in tn a sham. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the u. Following this, the court noted that manual scavenging is a contravention of human rights and the right to live with dignity enshrined by the constitution. The problem of manual scavenging continues in bihar as the state has more than 3620 manual scavengers in its 27 districts with east champaran district alone having over 2400 of them. This report is released to inform interested parties of research and to encourage discussion. Stringent antimanual scavenging bill passed the hindu. Pdf the practice of manual scavenging is the worst surviving symbol of. Further, the hearing on 27 march 2014 was held on manual scavenging of writ petition number 583 of 2003, and supreme court has issued final orders and case is disposed of with various directions to the government.
Even today many states say that there are no dry toilets or manual scavenging in their state. These states are from all the parts of the country. Pdf manual scavengingthe most obnoxious underemployment. A new act and rules were adopted in 20 reinforcing this illegality. Scavenging for the state, economic and political weekly, vol.
The inhuman practice of manually removing night soil which. India is the only country in the world where a particular section of the society is traditionally responsible. In 1911 census some of them started returning as adi dharmi, adi dravida, adi karnataka and adi andhra. Ashif shaikh on manual scavenging and caste discrimination in. The research on death incidences of manual scavengers while cleaning sewer or septic. Draft plan calls for machines, action against officials august 19, 2019 7. Karnataka, which has over 15,000 manual scavengers, recorded 60 deaths related to manual scavenging, between 2008 and 2016. Though the census of india 2011 pegs the number of dry latrines at 7,94,390, there are. As per the socioeconomic caste census 2015, nearly 1, 80,657 households have reported manual scavengers.