A recent academic paper has starkly reframed the practice of manual scavenging in India, moving it beyond a mere sanitation issue to a flagrant violation of fundamental human rights. The research, conducted by a professor from Lucknow University, underscores how this degrading practice continues to thrive despite legal prohibitions, perpetuating caste-based oppression and endangering lives.
The Grim Reality: Health Hazards and Social Stigma
The study, titled 'Revisiting the human rights struggle of safai karmachari andolan: Manual scavenging and the fight for dignity in India', was authored by Prof Varun Chhachhar from Lucknow University. It was published in the Asian Yearbook of Human Rights by Brill Nijoff, Hasselt University, Belgium. The paper details that manual scavenging involves the direct, manual handling of human excreta, typically without any protective gear or safety protocols.
This work is predominantly forced upon Dalit communities, highlighting a brutal intersection of caste discrimination and economic exploitation. Those engaged in this work suffer catastrophic health consequences, including chronic respiratory diseases, life-threatening infections like hepatitis and typhoid, and severe psychological trauma. Beyond physical health, they are trapped in a cycle of social stigma, poverty, and exclusion, which systematically blocks their access to education, dignified employment, and a normal social life.
Failed Laws and Slow Progress
India has enacted laws specifically to eradicate this practice, namely The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993 and The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. Government initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Mission also aim for sanitation reform. However, the research points to weak implementation and a critical lack of genuine rehabilitation as the primary reasons the practice persists.
Indian courts have repeatedly issued directives to the government to take effective action, but tangible progress on the ground remains painfully slow. The paper brings to the fore the relentless advocacy of the Safai Karmachari Andolan, a movement that has been campaigning for justice, education, alternative livelihoods, and, most fundamentally, dignity for the affected communities.
A Call for Dignity and Action
Prof Varun Chhachhar emphatically stated that "manual scavenging is not just a sanitation issue, it is a human rights violation." He argues that to finally end this inhuman practice, a multi-pronged approach is non-negotiable. This includes:
- Strict enforcement of existing laws.
- Widespread social awareness campaigns to dismantle casteist attitudes.
- Effective rehabilitation programmes that provide sustainable alternative employment.
- And above all, fostering a societal respect for the dignity of every worker.
The research serves as a powerful reminder that the fight against manual scavenging is a fight for the soul of India's commitment to equality and human rights. The continued existence of this practice is a stark indicator of the unfinished agenda of social justice and the urgent need for concerted, sincere action from all stakeholders.
