Manual Scavenging

Published on 30 Jan 2025

Manual scavenging refers to the practice of manually cleaning, carrying and disposal of, or handling human excreta from dry latrines and sewers. Despite having a national legislation banning the practice of manual scavenging, it is still persisting and as per 2023 government records, 339 people died while cleaning sewers and septic tanks in India over the preceding 5 years.

Reasons for persisting Manual Scavenging in India

• Caste-based discrimination: Manual scavenging is a product of caste discrimination persisting in India, where the lower castes are forced to indulge in caste ridden occupation.

• Example: As per Ministry of Social Justice, around 97.25% of manual scavengers in India belong to the SC community.

• Lack of alternative livelihood: Caste norms, social stigma and lack of access to education prevent social mobility, thus restricting the manual scavengers from pursuing alternative employment.

• Example: In Karnataka, in 2021, 3000 people returned to manual scavenging due to lack of alternate employment and compensation. (IndiaSpend)

• Poverty: There exists an overlap between lower caste and poor people in India. This economic vulnerability pushes the lower castes towards manual scavenging.

• Example: As per Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, 93% of Dalit families in Karnataka are BPL, a portion of this poor gets deviated to manual scavenging.

• Poor enforcement of laws: There is a lack of strict implementation of laws and poor monitoring, which aids in the continuation of the practice in many parts of India.

• Example: As per the Social Justice ministry, around 40 districts in India have still not declared as manual scavenging free due to poor implementation of laws.

• Poor sanitation infrastructure: In rural and remote areas, there is lack of availability of sanitation infrastructure, which compels the continuation of traditional practice.

Issues faced by Manual Scavengers 

• Threat to life: Manual scavengers are not provided with adequate safety gears, and this has led to many scavengers losing their life during work.

• Example: As per National Commission for Safai Karamcharis database, 608 manual scavengers died between 2013 and 2017 while cleaning septic tanks.

• Health insecurity: Those involved in manual cleaning get exposed to harmful gases and chemicals and put them at the risk of infections and diseases.

• Example: Prevalence of cholera, typhoid, hepatitis and various respiratory infections in manual scavengers.

• Social stigma: Manual scavengers are discriminated against and excluded from mainstream society. This social ostracization affects the mental health of the workers.

• Poor employment benefit: The workers are paid very low and lack other employment benefits, which pushes them to economic insecurity.

• Example: Manual scavengers are paid only Rs 300 to Rs 500, while Mumbai civic body charges around 20000 to 30000 for sewage cleaning.

• Poor career growth for their children: The children of manual scavengers are also discriminated against and their poor financial state prevents them from quality education. This creates a vicious cycle within the family.

• Violence and abuse: Often, manual scavengers are not treated in a humane manner. Frequent abuse against them affects their dignity and pride.

• Example: Based on a study by Rehabilitation Research Initiative in 2022, more than 3100 women working as manual scavengers have reported violence, beating and rape threats.

Government initiatives to address manual scavenging

• Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act 2013: 

• Official ban: The legislation bans manual scavenging and makes the offence cognizable and non-bailable.

• Definition: Widened the definition of manual scavengers by including all forms of manual removal of human excreta.

• Rehabilitation: Focus on rehabilitation of manual scavengers by organizing training programmes and offering scholarships to their children.

• Obligation upon employer: The employer must provide protective tools to workers.

• NAMASTE scheme: For rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers and Persons Engaged in Hazardous Cleaning of Sewer and Septic Tank (SSWs) and promotion of safe and mechanised cleaning of sewers and septic tanks through trained and certified sanitation workers.

• Compensation programme: Around 58000 sewer workers have been identified and given a one-term cash payout of 40000 each.

• Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge: A campaign to encourage cities to mechanize their sewer and septic tank cleaning operations.

• National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation: For the all-round socio-economic upliftment of the Safai Karamcharis, scavengers and their dependents throughout India.

Way forward

• Use of modern sanitation technology: Development of mechanized cleaning systems like bandicoot and the distribution of such machines at affordable rates.

• Promote alternate livelihood: Rehabilitation should involve compensation along with proper skilling so that people are in a better position to pursue alternative employment.

• Partnership with NGOs: Collaboration with NGOs and civil society groups engaged in human rights and social justice for better implementation of policies.

• Social awareness: People should be educated on the harmful impacts of scavenging and there should be efforts to reform the caste rigidities persisting in the society.

Thus, manual scavenging can only be eliminated through a combination of legal, economic and social initiatives, which requires cooperation between government, NGOs, civil society organizations and the citizens.

Tags:
Social Justice

Keywords:
Manual Scavenging NAMASTE scheme Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation National Commission for Safai Karamcharis dalits scheduled castes scheduled tribes SC ST Prohibition of Employment as M

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 2

Topics:
Social Justice