“Critical Study of Manual Scavenging in India.

”
By
Mr. Mandge Swapnil Sanjay
Under The Guidance Of
Prof. Sonali Kamble

Abstract:

Manual scavenging is one of the social stigmas connected to Indian society.

Even today, manual scavenging is still done in a number of locations around India. In
India, the majority of the 1.3 million Dalit who participate in the cruel practise of
physical labour are women. Estimates from The International Dalit Solidarity refer to
scavenging. The present day It is sad that manual scavenging still occurs in these day of
science and technology. Despite the attempt made by various Indian rules to stop hand
scavenging, there has since 1993, not a single incidence has been recorded. Statistics on
the number of cases filed under The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers
and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, are absent from the National Crime Records
Bureau's (NCRB) "Crime in the United States" report. India's 2020 reports. To address a
concern about manual scavengers, the Social In February 2021, the Justice and
Empowerment Ministry notified the Lok Sabha that 340 in the past five years people
have passed away while clearing septic tanks and sewers.

Additionally, according to the National Commission for Safai Karmchari

(NCSK), 631 people died throughout the country while maintaining septic tanks and
sewers in the previous 10 years, ranging in age from 2010 to 2020. This study's
objective is to examine the unethical practise of manual scavenging. Along with the
several initiatives that have been put in place in India to assist manual scavengers.
Despite being prohibited, manual scavenging continues to occur in India, illustrating a
terrible failure of the judicial system and an infringement on one's fundamental rights.
Being a caste-based occupation, manual scavenging is vulnerable to societal
discrimination and boycott. The goal of this study is to critically assess the rules and
policies that impact the manual scavenging community and offer suggestions for how to
get around them. Current regulations' effects on manual scavengers. This essay will also
examine. The strange manual scavenging custom in India. Additionally, the function of
society will be examined and manual scavenging by the Indian government.

Keyword:

Caste-based Discrimination, Human Waste Handling, Social Stigmatization,

Health Hazards, Human Rights Violation, Untouchability.

Introduction:

In certain regions of India, caste-based forced labour known as "manual

scavenging" has been in use. It involves manually cleaning human and animal
excrement using brooms and small tin plates, then bringing it in baskets to be disposed
of at a predetermined location that is far away. Outside of the living room A crucial
component of the caste system is the social structure of India has existed for many
years. Its foundation is human inequality, which Caste is used as a factor in the division
of labour. Political, economic, and social Relationships between people are influenced
by their caste. Since the beginning, the Scheduled Castes (SC) have been given menial
activities or jobs like sweeping, cleaning, disposing of dead animals, leather work, and
other things that upper castes would never consider performing because they are
considered dirty and polluting. The SC community has no other options for surviving
because of the stigma attached to their biological identity, which forces them to work at
the above humiliating job. The most menial of these duties is manual scavenging, which
is required of some particular Dalit sub castes who are treated as the untouchables
within the untouchables. In order to support the dominance of the upper castes in the
Vedic society, Shudras created an inferior caste known as the "untouchables." The
untouchables were viewed as people who were always dirty.

Their rank was thought to have resulted from the type of work they do, such as
such as cutting, making and mending shoes, tanning leather, skinning animal carcasses,
and working in cremation grounds, washing garments, and manual scavenging were
among them. Despite efforts to end it, manual scavenging still occurs in many nations
across the world, especially in those where it is socially entrenched, like India. This
practise entails people, frequently from lower-caste and marginalised communities,
manually cleaning and getting rid of human waste from septic tanks, open sewers and
dry latrines. An summary of the problem, its historical background, and its significant
societal and human rights implications are provided in the introduction to this topic.
Manual scavenging has historically been carefully tied to caste-based discrimination
since certain groups were assigned to this demeaning and dangerous task because of
their social standing. Beyond the obvious health dangers, the effects also include the
denial of fundamental human rights, social isolation, and the continuation of deeply
rooted injustices. Manual scavenging persists despite legislative efforts to outlaw it and
improve living conditions for individuals who engage in it because of a mix of
economic weaknesses, lax enforcement, and the existence of out-of-date sanitation
systems. This introduction lays the groundwork for a more in-depth investigation of the
causes, societal effects, legal environment, and current initiatives to solve this urgent
issue of human rights and dignity.

Background:

Men and women who work as manual scavengers still manually clean human
waste from open defection sites, septic tanks, closed and open gutters, and public and
private dry toilets after 75 years of independence. Though manual Women who
scavenge confront discrimination on two fronts: caste and gender inequality. Census
data for According to data from India 2011, manual scavenging is still a deplorable
practise. India. There are approximately 1.8 lakh people, according to the Socio
Economic and Caste Census of 2011. Maharashtra has the highest percentage of Indian
households that rely on manual scavenging for their existence. Biggest number (63,713)
of manual scavengers, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, and
Karnataka. Almost without exception, all of they originate in the SC. The practise of
manual scavenging has its roots in India's caste system, where some caste, frequently
referred to as "Dalit" or "Untouchables," were historically tasked with the demeaning
and unhygienic chore of managing and cleaning up human waste. The basis of this
practise was the concept of "untouchability," according to which these people were seen
as impure and kept apart from the rest of society.

Manual scavenging was an expression of the social inequality and caste-based

prejudice that had long existed in India. It was challenging for those working in this
field to break free from the cycle of poverty and marginalisation since they experienced
considerable societal stigmatisation and isolation. Cleaning dry latrines, manually
clearing waste from open drains, and accessing septic tanks without the appropriate
safety gear are all examples of manual scavenging. These jobs are not only demeaning,
but they are also dangerous for your health. In order to outlaw manual scavenging and
allow for the rehabilitation of those impacted, India passed the Employment of Manual
Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act in 1993. Due to
difficulties enforcing the laws, economic weaknesses, and the continuation of
unhygienic sanitation systems, the practise persists despite the laws. Beyond the
immediate health hazards, manual scavenging violates fundamental human rights,
including the ability to live in dignity and without prejudice. It draws attention to the
pressing need for extensive legislative changes, social transformation, and better
sanitary infrastructure to promote justice and equality for all people, regardless of their
social backgrounds.

Issue of Health: Many persons who work as manual scavengers experience health
problems since their manual contact with excrement puts them at risk for a number of
illnesses, including skin infections, rotting of the fingers and limbs, helicobacter,
leptospirosis, TB, and hepatitis. A few hand scavengers grouse about not being able to
eat because they are around excrement. Most of the women from in manual scavenging
villages, men are typically addicted to alcohol and tobacco (Gutka). An effort to
downplay the disgustingness of their labour and combat their state of hopelessness. The
Indian Railway is a major source of dry latrines, where toilets empty all of the waste
from trains onto the tracks. And to clean the railway track and other things, they use
hand scavengers. A while back, the Minister of The Indian Railway has been referred to
as "the world's largest" by Rural Development, Water and Sanitation. The manual
scavenging is a women-centric job, as for eleven Indian states claims that around 95 to
98 per cent of total manual scavengers in the country are women. Women from the
Dalit community are involved in jobs such as cleaning dry latrines, cleaning or
sweeping streets, open defecations, open drainage and so
on, whereas the cleaning sewer or septic tanks tasks requiring more physical strength.

Objective of Study:

1. To analysis the impact of technology on manual scavenging.

2. To study the health issues related to the manual scavenger.
3. To research how their fundamental rights are being violated.
Statement of Hypothesis:

(1) Using better technology we can solve the problem of manual scavenging.
(2) Increasing technology in manual scavenging can prevent health issue.

Discussion:

Human waste and sewage are manually cleaned and handled by people without
the required tools or protection, which is a very troubling and inhumane practise. Here
are some essential talking points for this subject:

1. Human Right Violation: Manual scavenging is a clear violation of people's rights.

Workers that engage in this practise frequently come from underrepresented groups
and face risky working circumstances, prejudice, and social stigma.
2. Health and safety risk: Workers who engage in manual scavenging run the
substantial health risks associated with exposure to germs, toxic gases, and
hazardous chemicals. These risks are made worse by a lack of protective gear and
inadequate training.
3. Social Stigma: Due to social exclusion and discrimination, it is challenging for
manual scavengers and their families to break the cycle of poverty and find
alternative jobs.
4. Legal Framework: There are laws against manual scavenging and provisions for
the rehabilitation of those who engage in it in several nations, including India.
However, enforcement continues to be difficult.
5. Technological Solutions: It is essential to create and use sanitation technologies
that do away with the necessity for manual scavenging. It's crucial to have sewage
systems and septic tanks that don't need to be manually cleaned.
6. Awareness and education: In order to influence attitudes and promote alternatives
to manual scavenging, public awareness initiatives are required. The cycle of
discrimination can be broken with the use of education and awareness.
7. Government Responsibility: By upholding current regulations, offering
rehabilitation and other employment possibilities, and maintaining sanitation
infrastructure, governments must assume responsibility for ending manual
scavenging.
8. NGO and Civil Society involvement: Civil society and non-governmental
organisations are essential in promoting the rights of manual scavengers and
helping with their rehabilitation.
9. International Perspective: There are several types of manual scavenging in
various places, not only in one nation. To properly address this issue, global
collaboration and the exchange of best practises are vital.
10. Progress and Challenges: It's critical to monitor the elimination of manual
scavenging while also acknowledging the difficulties that remain in many regions.

Conclusion:

Despite legislative measures and social awareness initiatives, manual scavenging

is a pervasive and dehumanising practise around the world, particularly in nations like
India. This practise, which has its roots in historical caste-based oppression and
discrimination, has far-reaching effects on the people who are affected and on society as
a whole. Manual scavenging has been outlawed, yet the practise still exists, highlighting
the need for broad reforms in a number of areas. These changes include strict
enforcement of current laws, the creation of chances for alternative livelihoods and
rehabilitation for those who have been impacted, investments in cutting-edge sanitation
systems, and confronting societal attitudes that support this practise. Manual scavenging
violates key human rights, including the right to live in dignity and without
discrimination, as well as posing serious health hazards to individuals participating.
Eliminating this practise demands collaborative action, societal transformation, and a
commitment to building a more just and equitable society. It is not only a legal
requirement but also a moral duty. In order to ensure that everyone, regardless of their
social background, can lead lives of dignity, respect, and equality, governments, civil
society organisations, and the global community must coordinate their efforts in the
ongoing effort to end manual scavenging. It is an appeal to address the ingrained
injustices that still exist and to create a world in which manual scavenging is a thing of
the past and everyone is treated with the respect and dignity they merit.

Finding:

The problem of manual scavenging remained throughout the world, particularly

in some parts of India. These manual scavenging-related findings are listed below.
 1. Prevalence in India: Despite legislative efforts to end it, manual scavenging
remained a serious issue in India. Septic tanks, sewers, and open drains were
frequently cleaned using this method, with most manual scavengers coming
from underprivileged regions.
2. Legal framework in India: Among the several laws and rules in India, the
"Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act,
2013," aims to put an end to manual scavenging and offer rehabilitation to
individuals affected by it.
3. Health and safety risk: In India, manual scavengers were at serious danger for
accidents, infections, and exposure to poisonous gases while at work. These
risks were made worse by a lack of appropriate gear and safety precautions.
4. Social Stigma: It was challenging for manual scavengers to escape this cycle of
exploitation since they and their family continued to face societal stigma and
discrimination.
5. Activism and Advocacy: Numerous activists, non-governmental organisations,
and civil society organisations were actively trying to increase understanding of
manual scavenging, help those who were harmed, and call for stronger
enforcement of the law.
6. Technological Solutions: There were ongoing efforts to create and apply
sanitation technology, such as tools for cleaning septic tanks and sewers that
may take the role of hand scavenging.
7. Government Initiative: The Indian government launched a number of
programmes and plans aimed at rehabilitating manual scavengers by giving
them alternate sources of income, access to education, and housing. But in
different states, these projects had a different level of success.

Scope of the Study:

The scope of manual scavenging is broad and includes a variety of factors, such
as social, economic, health, and legal considerations. An outline of manual scavenging
is given below:

1. Social dimensions:
  Caste-based Discrimination: In some nations, the caste system has a
strong tie to manual scavenging, which makes some caste groups the
target of prejudice and isolation.
 Social Stigma: Due to their line of work, manual scavengers suffer from
extreme social shame, marginalisation, and humiliation.
2. Economic Dimensions:
 Low Income: Manual scavengers frequently have meagre salaries, which
keeps them mired in a cycle of poverty.
 Limited Employment Opportunity: The career options for manual
scavengers are limited due to societal stigma, a lack of education, and a
lack of skills.
3. Health Dimensions:
 Health Hazards: Manual scavengers are subjected to risky working
conditions, such as harmful fumes, infections, and filthy workplaces,
which can have an adverse effect on their health.
 Mental health: Manual scavenging has a psychological cost that is
frequently ignored, including tension, worry, and depression.
4. legal dimension:
 Legislation: Many nations have passed legislation outlawing manual
scavenging and setting up programmes for the rehabilitation of those
who have been harmed.
 Enforcement: These laws' effectiveness depends on their enforcement,
which can vary greatly.
5. Rehabilitation Dimensions:
 Rehabilitation Programs: Rehabilitation and skill-building programmes
are required to assist manual scavengers in switching to alternate forms
of employment.
 Alternative sanitation technology: A important component is
promoting cutting-edge sanitation systems that do away with the
necessity for hand scavenging.
6. Gender dimension: Manual scavenging is typically done by women in various
areas, which raises gender-specific difficulties.
7. Awareness and Advocacy:
  Social Awareness: To question established norms and promote change,
it is crucial to raise awareness of the problem.
 Activism: Campaigning for social justice and policy improvements
requires the support of advocacy organisations and people.
8. International perspective: Manual scavenging is not confined to a single
nation, and efforts to abolish it globally can be supported by international
organisations and cooperation.

Limitation of the Study:

The act of manually cleaning and treating human waste, known as manual
scavenging, has many limitations and disadvantages, which led to widespread outrage
of the practise and efforts to get it abolished.

1. Health Risk- Due to the unclean environment they work in, manual scavengers
are subject to a variety of health risks, including the possibility of catching
cholera, hepatitis, and other infections.
2. Safety Hazard - Major safety dangers exist while working in small,
inadequately ventilated areas like septic tanks and sewer systems. Workers run
the risk of drowning, breathing difficulties, and being exposed to poisonous
gases.
3. Dignity and Social Stigma - Manual scavenging is a humiliating and negative
job that supports bias and economic inequalities. Social rejection and exclusion
of workers is common.
4. Lack of Protective Gear - Many manual scavengers do not have training to
appropriate safety equipment, which leaves them open to the negative impacts of
handling waste without sufficient protection
5. Manual Labour - The manual nature of the task is physically demanding and
can result in muscular skeletal disorders and other long-term health problems.
6. Limited Economic Opportunities - It can be challenging for manual
scavengers to leave their line of work since they frequently have no access to
alternative employment and are caught in a cycle of poverty.
7. Legal and Policy Gaps - Manual scavenging is prohibited by laws and
regulations in many nations, although enforcement and implementation can be
inadequate which encourages the ongoing exploitation of powerless people.

Methodology:

The most frightening and upsetting job that can be found in India is manual
scavenging. The majority of manual scavengers are Dalit people who live in poverty
and without access to education. They manually remove human waste from dry
toilets and sewers and carry it, dispose of it, or handle it. This work was lawful.
Several years ago, the authorities outlawed it. The manual scavenger's existence is
related to the caste system, in which the 'lower castes' were required to do the
labour. An NGO estimates that 600 sewage workers pass away each year. On a
national scale, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra are home to the
majority of manual scavengers. Only 30,000 sanitation employees are on duty in
Mumbai to maintain the city's streets, dry restrooms, and sewage canals. In India,
there are a total of 1.2 billion manual scavengers. Families in both urban and rural
areas total about 7.5 lakh. Despite strict regulations. Despite being prohibited by
law, manual scavenging is nonetheless practised in several regions of India. Mainly
manual Scavengers are compelled to perform manual scavenging because they live
in poverty.

Additionally, during the past few years, there have been more workers who
have passed away while clearing out septic tanks and sewage. 2019 was the highest
number of deaths from manual scavenging in the previous five years.110 manual
scavengers lost their lives while cleaning the Septic tanks and wastewater in India
Another example of human untouchability in our culture is manual scavenging. The
Indian Supreme Court issued a judgement in 2013 that was strongly in favour of
manual scavengers in India as a means of resolving this issue. The verdict of the
case is supported by The manual scavenger's family is entitled to compensation
under articles 15 and 17, which provide for a one-time financial Payout of Rs 15
lakhs in the event of death. Additionally, the children of manual scavengers are
offered scholarship programmes for everything from elementary school through
college. In India, the system of manual scavenging is still in use. The manual
scavenging system will be eliminated from our country if we take a declaration for
 its elimination seriously. This would result in the elimination of the worst
employment currently held by the most underprivileged group in society.

Reference:

- https://barti.in/upload/pdf/Manual_Scavenging_report.pdf
- https://www.ijlmh.com/paper/manual-scavenging-in-india-a-critical-study/
- https://www.ijnrd.org/papers/IJNRD2112001.pdf
- https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4531196
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/

 Name - Swapnil Sanjay Manadage

 Mobile No - +91 70665 75703
 Mail - mandgeswapnil26@gmail.com
 College Name - Sir Parshurambhau College