Manual Scavenging in India Enduring Challenges Introduction

• Recently, it was stated by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, that no reports of manual scavenging had been received from any State or Union Territory.

• Throughout history, societies have experienced profound shifts in power dynamics, reshaping political ideals and transforming both individual lives and collective identities. While modernization has ushered in significant progress, it has unfortunately left many marginalized groups, particularly Dalits, without the fruits of its benefits. 
• One stark example of this inequity is the ongoing practice of manual scavenging, despite being explicitly prohibited by law. This outdated and dehumanizing practice continues to persist, highlighting the failure to eradicate deeply entrenched social discrimination and inequalities.

Understanding Manual Scavenging

• What is Manual Scavenging?

• • Manual scavenging is the inhumane practice of removing human excrement from public spaces, such as streets and dry latrines, and cleaning septic tanks, gutters, and sewers. 
  • Individuals engaged in manual scavenging typically use rudimentary hand tools such as buckets, brooms, and shovels to handle the waste. These workers often have to carry human excreta in baskets, sometimes for several kilometers, to disposal locations.
• The International Labour Organization (ILO) classifies manual scavenging into three distinct forms:
  • Removal of human excrement from public streets and dry latrines
  • Cleaning of septic tanks
  • Cleaning of gutters and sewers
• This practice, which has been outlawed by the Indian government, continues to persist in certain regions, primarily due to social discrimination, entrenched caste-based hierarchies, and lack of enforcement of laws.

Extent of Manual Scavenging in India

• Despite the legal prohibition under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, manual scavenging remains a persistent issue in India. 
• This practice, which involves the inhuman task of manually cleaning septic tanks, sewers, and dry latrines, continues to affect thousands, especially from the Dalit community.

Current Statistics in India

• Statistics in India: 

• • • According to government reports, approximately 57,000 workers continue to engage in hazardous cleaning practices across India. However, the implementation of protective measures has been inadequate, with only 16,791 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits being distributed, leaving many workers vulnerable to diseases and accidents. 
    • Furthermore, less than 14,000 workers have received health cards, and only 837 safety workshops have been conducted across 4,800 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
    • The demographic breakdown reveals that 97% of manual scavengers are Dalits. This represents a significant societal issue, as 42,594 manual scavengers belong to the Scheduled Castes (SC), 421 to Scheduled Tribes (ST), and 431 to Other Backward Classes (OBCs). However, these numbers are likely an underestimate, given the difficulties in tracking such a deeply marginalized community.

• Census Data and Further Estimates:

• • The Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) of 2011 identified a total of 180,657 manual scavengers, although this figure does not account for urban India. As per Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011, Maharashtra has the highest number of manual scavengers at 63713.  
  • An advocacy group, the Safai Karmachari Andolan (SKA), which has been at the forefront of this fight for justice, estimates the actual number of manual scavengers in India to be around 1.2 million, reflecting the stark gap between government records and the true scale of the problem.

Why is Manual Scavenging Still Prevalent in India?

• Deep-Rooted Social Prejudice and Caste System: Social prejudice, particularly the caste-based discrimination associated with manual scavenging, remains a critical barrier. Ambedkar’s words resonate here: “In India, a man is not a scavenger because of his work. He is a scavenger because of his birth.” The practice continues to be rooted in the caste system, with those from the lowest castes subjected to this degrading work, regardless of their educational achievements. Even individuals who acquire degrees face the harsh reality of being marginalized and stigmatized because of their caste identity.

• Government Apathy and Data Inconsistencies: One of the primary reasons manual scavenging persists is the lack of effective government action. The government’s response to the issue has often been evasive, with discrepancies in official records. For instance, the government has claimed that no deaths have occurred due to manual scavenging in the last five years, yet reports from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment reveal that 66,692 manual scavengers are still officially recognized. This inconsistency in data reveals the government’s reluctance to fully acknowledge and address the scale of the issue.

• Existence of Insanitary Latrines: As of the 2011 Census, over 26 lakh insanitary latrines still exist in India, which create a persistent demand for manual scavenging. These latrines are not equipped with modern sanitation systems, which forces marginalized communities to carry out the dangerous and degrading task of manual scavenging.

• Misrepresentation by Contractors and Outsourcing: Government institutions, including the Indian Railways, the army, and urban municipalities, often outsource manual scavenging work to contractors. This outsourcing allows these institutions to avoid direct accountability or liability, effectively perpetuating the practice. The workers involved are often misrepresented as ‘sweepers’ to sidestep legal obligations, masking the ongoing exploitation.

• Half-hearted Rehabilitation and Ineffective Schemes: While government schemes exist to provide relief to manual scavengers, they often fail to achieve meaningful impact due to poor implementation. 

• For instance, the government’s scheme provides one-time cash assistance of Rs 40,000, along with skill development training and capital subsidies for self-employment. However, the lack of a reliable database and consistent follow-up makes these initiatives largely ineffective, and manual scavengers are often left without the resources or opportunities needed to escape their plight.

• Poor Enforcement of Laws: Despite the existence of laws like the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers Act, 2013, there has been little progress in enforcing these laws. There are hardly any serious legal proceedings against organizations or individuals who continue to engage in manual scavenging, leading to a lack of deterrence and continued exploitation.

• Institutions Inactive: Establishment of monitoring bodies has been done by the government, but they largely remain inactive. For instance, the Karnataka State Safai Karmachari Commission is the designated body. However, since 2018, no members have been appointed, preventing the Commission from achieving quorum. The commission has remained non-functional, stripping workers of a vital platform for redressal and accountability. 

The Urgent Need to Eliminate Manual Scavenging in India

• Dehumanizing Activity and Violation of Basic Rights: The Right to Life with Dignity is enshrined in Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. Yet, manual scavenging violates this fundamental right. It lowers individuals to the status of mere tools for carrying out an inhumane task, stripping them of their basic dignity. This practice devalues the lives of those involved, reducing them to a subhuman status in society, creating an unjust hierarchy that is both discriminatory and unjustifiable.

• Reinforcement of the Caste System and the Notion of Purity and Pollution: One of the core issues with manual scavenging is its deep entrenchment in India’s caste system. The practice is rooted in the idea of purity and pollution, where people from the lowest castes are deemed to be impure and thus relegated to performing menial and degrading tasks such as cleaning human excreta. This form of forced labor continues to uphold caste-based discrimination and reinforces social inequality.

• Social Stigma, Marginalization, and Intergenerational Poverty: The people involved in manual scavenging are socially ostracized and subjected to severe stigmatization. They often face the reality of untouchability, with families excluded from education, housing, and basic amenities. This marginalization traps them in a cycle of poverty, making it almost impossible for future generations to break free. The social exclusion of manual scavengers, which often extends to their children, perpetuates intergenerational poverty and hinders their access to a better life.

• Health Hazards and Fatalities: Manual scavenging is an inherently dangerous practice that exposes workers to a wide array of health hazards.

• • Exposure to Toxic Gases: Scavengers working in confined spaces like sewers are often exposed to hazardous gases such as hydrogen sulfide, methane, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide. These gases can lead to immediate asphyxiation, unconsciousness, and even death.
  • Pathogen Exposure: Direct contact with human waste exposes workers to numerous dangerous pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. This leads to a range of health issues including gastrointestinal diseases, respiratory illnesses, skin conditions, and long-term chronic diseases.
  • Lack of Safety Gear: Most manual scavengers lack proper protective equipment, which exacerbates their vulnerability to these hazardous conditions. Tragically, fatalities due to asphyxiation or poisoning from sewer work are frequent. According to the Safai Karamchari Andolan, over 472 deaths occurred within five years due to these dangerous tasks.

• India’s International Commitments: India is a signatory to several international agreements, including the UN Declaration on Human Rights and the International Labour Organization’s Occupational Safety and Health Convention. These agreements prohibit the continuation of exploitative practices such as manual scavenging, which is not only inhumane but also a clear violation of these global human rights commitments.

Government Initiatives For Elimination of Manual Scavenging in India

• Prohibition of the Employment of Manual Scavengers Act, 2013:

• • • The Prohibition of Employment of Manual Scavengers Act, 2013 is a key legal measure to eliminate the inhumane practice of manual scavenging. This legislation bans the employment of individuals for cleaning insanitary latrines and the hazardous manual cleaning of septic tanks and sewers. 
    • The Act enforces strict penalties for violations and mandates rehabilitation programs for manual scavengers.

• Prevention of SC/ST Atrocities Act, 1989:

• • • The Prevention of SC/ST Atrocities Act, 1989 provides an additional legal safeguard for manual scavengers, particularly as most of them belong to the Scheduled Castes (SC). This legislation aims to protect marginalized communities from exploitation, and it plays a crucial role in eliminating caste-based occupations, including manual scavenging.

• Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS):

• • Launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) offers an opportunity for manual scavengers and their dependents to transition into alternative livelihoods. 
  • This time-bound scheme is designed to help affected individuals integrate into the mainstream workforce and break the cycle of caste-based labor.

• National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme:

• • The NAMASTE Scheme, a Central Sector Scheme,  launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), aims to completely eradicate manual scavenging. The initiative focuses on mechanized cleaning of sewers and septic tanks, ensuring the safety, dignity, and well-being of sanitation workers. This scheme promotes the use of modern, mechanized sanitation systems to replace manual labor.

• Supreme Court Order, 2014:

• • • In 2014, the Supreme Court of India issued a landmark ruling making it mandatory for the government to identify all individuals who had died while performing sewage work since 1993. The Court directed the government to provide Rs. 10 lakh compensation to the families of these workers, as a step towards addressing the human cost of manual scavenging.

• National Commission for Safai Karmacharis (NCSK):

• • • The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) was constituted in 1994 as a statutory body by an Act of Parliament viz. ‘National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993’, for a period of three years. With the lapsing of the “The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993”, the Commission is acting as a Non-Statutory body of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The NCSK works to ensure fair treatment, financial assistance, and access to welfare schemes for those engaged in sanitation work.

• National Safai Karamchari Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC): 

• • • It was established on January 24, 1997, as a “Not For Profit” company under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.  The NSKFDC provides financial assistance and capacity-building support for sanitation workers. The Corporation helps facilitate the transition to mechanized sanitation solutions by offering funds for desludging trucks, thereby reducing reliance on manual labor in sewer and septic tank cleaning.

• Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0:

• • Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) 2.0 has been launched on October 1st, 2021 for a period of five years, up to October 1, 2026, with a vision of achieving safe sanitation and scientific processing of municipal solid waste in all cities. Rs 371 crore has been approved for release to states to provide smaller towns with machinery and improve sanitation mechanization under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban 2.0).  Some of its achievements are: 

• Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT):

• • The AMRUT Scheme, launched to improve urban infrastructure, has contributed significantly to the elimination of manual scavenging. 
  • The program focuses on developing comprehensive sewerage networks and sewage treatment plants across over 500 cities, reducing the dependency on manual cleaning and improving the quality of urban sanitation services.

Way Forward

• Enforce Strict Implementation of Existing Laws: The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, is designed to eradicate the practice of manual scavenging, but strict enforcement is essential. This includes prosecuting both employers who use manual scavengers and individuals who continue to practice this dehumanizing occupation. Ensuring that legal provisions are followed will help create a safer environment for sanitation workers.

• Comprehensive Identification and Survey: A nationwide survey is needed to identify individuals currently engaged in manual scavenging or those who are vulnerable to it. Comprehensive and accurate surveys can reveal the true scale of the issue and ensure targeted interventions for those involved in the practice.

• Hold Municipalities and Contractors Accountable: Municipalities, government departments, and private contractors must be held accountable for employing manual scavengers or for creating the conditions that force individuals into this work. Implementing severe penalties for non-compliance would act as a deterrent and encourage municipalities to adopt mechanized alternatives.

• Mandate Mechanization of Sanitation Work: A critical step in eliminating manual scavenging is the complete mechanization of sanitation work, especially cleaning sewers and septic tanks. The government should mandate the use of modern equipment such as suction machines, jetting machines, robotic cleaners, and other appropriate technologies. This would reduce the dependence on manual labor and provide safer, more dignified alternatives for sanitation workers.

• Provide Financial Assistance and Skill Development: Immediate financial assistance should be provided to those currently involved in manual scavenging to help them transition to alternative livelihoods. Additionally, skill development programs should be offered in various fields such as plumbing, electrical work, driving, computer skills, and tailoring. This would enable individuals to find dignified employment and escape the cycle of manual scavenging.

• Invest in Technological Solutions: Technological innovations can play a pivotal role in eliminating manual scavenging. For example, the Bandicoot robot, which mimics the actions of human scavengers, has been successfully deployed in Tamil Nadu for sewer cleaning. The government should expand the use of such technology to further reduce the need for manual labor in hazardous sanitation tasks.

• Launch Public Awareness Campaigns: A nationwide public awareness campaign is essential to sensitize the population about the inhumanity of manual scavenging and its link to caste-based discrimination. These campaigns should challenge societal prejudices and promote the dignity of labor. Collaboration with activists like Bezwada Wilson and organizations such as Safai Karmachari Andolan (SKA) can help formulate and implement effective policies. Their involvement would also play a crucial role in driving societal change and ensuring that manual scavengers receive the respect and dignity they deserve.