Sewer Death Again Shows our Failure to Eradicate Manual Scavenging

A tragic incident occurred in New Friends Colony, Delhi, where a worker, Panth Lal, died while cleaning a sewer. He is survived by his wife and children.

Manual Scavenging

• Definition: Cleaning of human waste, sewers, and septic tanks manually. This practice is predominantly performed by individuals from marginalized castes, continuing the legacy of caste-based discrimination in modern India.
• Caste-based Discrimination: Manual scavenging is a stark example of caste-based discrimination, where individuals from lower castes are forced to perform these degrading and hazardous tasks.
• Contradiction: Despite advancements in artificial intelligence and space exploration, certain communities still earn their livelihood through the degrading practice of cleaning human waste, exposing the deep-rooted caste inequalities that persist in society.
• Judicial Observations: The Madras High Court rightfully observed that when a fellow citizen is sent into a sewer, it amounts to state-sanctioned casteism, which violates the Constitutional ethos of equality and dignity for all citizens.

Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013

• About: The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 declared manual scavenging illegal in India. 
  • The Act aims to end the practice of manual scavenging and provides for rehabilitation of those affected.
• Lack of Implementation: Despite the strong legal framework, there have been zero convictions since the Act’s enactment in 2013, even as deaths continue to occur due to manual scavenging.
• Weak Enforcement: While the law exists on paper, its implementation remains weak. The failure to enforce the law reflects the lack of political will and infrastructure to end the practice and rehabilitate manual scavengers.

Current Status of Manual Scavenging in India

• Official Identification: As of 2021, 58,098 manual scavengers have been officially identified in India, continuing a historically discriminatory practice.
• Deaths Due to Manual Scavenging: Between 2017 and 2023, over 400 deaths have occurred due to sewer cleaning, highlighting the dangerous and degrading nature of manual scavenging.
• Lack of Accountability: Not a single employer has been punished for engaging in manual scavenging, despite the existence of laws and regulations prohibiting the practice.

Government Schemes for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers

• Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS): Offers financial assistance for alternate livelihoods to manual scavengers, aiming to help them transition to self-employment.
• Swachh Bharat Mission: Promotes mechanized cleaning as part of the broader sanitation drive to replace manual scavenging with modern techniques.
• NAMASTE Scheme (2022): Provides training in mechanized sanitation to manual scavengers to help them acquire new skills and move away from manual cleaning jobs.
  • Despite the good intentions, the implementation gaps prevent widespread impact, with many affected communities still lacking access to these programs.

Way Forward

• Mandatory Use of Technology: Drawing inspiration from Japan and Sweden, technology should be mandatorily used in the cleaning of sewers and septic tanks to eliminate the need for manual scavenging and reduce the risks to workers’ lives.
• Strict Punishments: Employers who engage in or allow manual scavenging should face strict punishments, including prosecution in cases of worker deaths. The death of a worker during manual scavenging should lead to employer prosecution
• Awareness Campaigns: Awareness campaigns are essential to eradicate caste-based discrimination, highlighting the dignity of every individual and ensuring social justice.
• Skill Development: Providing alternative job options through skill development programs can help individuals transition away from manual scavenging to dignified employment

Conclusion

Manual scavenging persists despite legal bans due to weak enforcement and deep-rooted social inequalities. Strict accountability, technological intervention, and effective rehabilitation are crucial to eradicating this inhumane practice.