What's the article about?
The article talks about manual scavengers(MS) and their challenges despite the government policies.
Syllabus: GS-II, Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections
Data:
- According to the 2011 census, there are 26lakh dry latrines.
- Several organizations suggest that more than 75 % of manual scavengers are women.
- As per the reply of M.Social Justice, >66,692 manual scavengers are counted with majority from U.P.
- 97% of manual scavengers are dalits with >42,594 belong to SC.
- According to Safai Karmachari Andolan, atleast 472 people have died during the last 5 yrs.
Government interventions:
- The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act pushes a person to manual scavenging.
- Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers(SRMS), to rehabilitate manual scavengers and their dependents in alternative occupations
- Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, intends to eliminate insanitary latrines, the prohibition of employment as MS.
- Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was launched to accelerate sanitation and to eliminate manual scavengers.
- Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge launched in all states to make sewer-cleaning mechanised by April 2021.
Challenges that persist:
- Social stigma: Stigma and discrimination make it difficult to liberate manual scavengers to secure alternate livelihoods.
- Lack of proper identification: Wide difference between official and NGO figures.
- Implementation gaps – Of the 87,913 manual scavengers identified by the national survey (2018), only 27,268 have been integrated into relevant schemes.
- Government apathy – Local administrations are not ready to accept that manual scavenging exists in their jurisdictions.
- Govt Biggest violator – Indian Railways, army and urban municipalities are largest employers of MS.
- Reduced funding – Diminished government support as observed in the 2021 budget.
- Vicious cycle of poverty and social exclusion adding to that doesnt have skill set too.
- Lack of awareness among the manual scavengers about opportunities.
Way forward
- Proper Identification: States need to accurately enumerate workers engaged in cleaning toxic sludge.
- Social Sensitization: By creating favourable environment.
- Empowering Local bodies: By providing funds for a strong case to address the problem of manual scavenging.
- Need For a Stringent Law: To create strong deterrence in society.
When India enters its 75th year of Independence, true gift to India is liberating the lives of Manual Scavengers.
