The Scourge of Manual Scavenging

6.4 The Scourge of Manual Scavenging

Description

Quick Overview

This section discusses manual scavenging in India, a practice where predominantly Dalit women and girls remove human waste, facing severe health risks and societal discrimination.

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The section outlines the realities of manual scavenging, detailing how Dalit communities, especially women and young girls, are involved in this low-paying and dangerous work. It also highlights the legislative framework intended to protect these workers and the discrepancies between laws and lived realities.

Detailed

The Scourge of Manual Scavenging

Manual scavenging is a deep-rooted practice in India, defined as the removal of human and animal waste using rudimentary tools and manual labor. This practice primarily affects Dalit women, who are forced into this occupation and endure abysmal working conditions.

Despite the abolition of untouchability in the Indian Constitution, individuals labeled as manual scavengers, such as the Bhangis in Gujarat, are still marginalized and live in segregated areas away from mainstream society. They often lack access to basic amenities like temples and public water facilities. The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act of 1993 aimed to prohibit this inhumane practice but has seen limited enforcement, leading to continued violations of their rights.

In 2003, the Safai Karamchari Andolan filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to address the ongoing existence of manual scavenging, highlighting its persistence even in government services like the railways. The Supreme Court mandated that effective measures be taken against manual scavenging, leading to the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act of 2013. Though these laws exist, the reality of manual scavengers remains grim, underscoring the gap between legal protections and actual practices.

Key Concepts

  • Manual Scavenging: The hazardous practice of cleaning human waste carried out primarily by marginalized communities.

  • Social Stigma: The negative perception faced by manual scavengers leading to exclusion in society.

  • Legislation: The laws created to protect the rights of manual scavengers, including the 1993 and 2013 acts.

Memory Aids

🎵 Rhymes Time

  • Manual scavenging's a painful plight, / In darkness they struggle, in filth they fight.

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • Imagine a brave young girl, Zoya, who navigates her village, breaking free from the chains of manual scavenging to inspire change and bring dignity to her community.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • To remember laws: P.A.R. (Prohibition, Action, Rights).

🎯 Super Acronyms

P.E.A.C.E. for the outcomes expected after the laws

  • Prohibition
  • Equality
  • Access
  • Change
  • Enforcement.

Examples

  • Dalit women involved in manual scavenging often live in areas segregated from the rest of society.

  • The Supreme Court's directive to end manual scavenging highlights the gap between written laws and reality.

Glossary of Terms

  • Term: Manual Scavenging

    Definition:

    The practice of cleaning human waste from dry latrines, predominantly conducted by Dalit women.

  • Term: Untouchability

    Definition:

    A social practice that labels certain communities as 'untouchable,' relegating them to the margins of society.

  • Term: Safai Karamchari Andolan

    Definition:

    An organization advocating for the rights and rehabilitation of manual scavengers.

  • Term: PIL (Public Interest Litigation)

    Definition:

    A legal action initiated in a court of law for the protection of the public interest.

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

    Definition:

    A law enacted in 2013 aimed at prohibiting manual scavenging and ensuring rehabilitation for those affected.