Manual Scavengers

Manual Scavengers are mostly Scheduled Castes (Balmiki caste) involved in manually removing the human excrement from the dry toilets of higher-caste families. 

Issues with Manual Scavenging

• In 1901, Mahatma Gandhi termed manual scavenging a national shame. 
• They gave low life expectancy. Unhygienic work makes them vulnerable to various infections. A large number of them die while cleaning excreta. 
• They have low wage payments and no financial security.
• Lack of Human Dignity: The Manual Scavengers suffer due to a lack of dignity as people treat them badly due to their association with dirty work.  

Their numbers

• The number of manual scavengers in India was 13,384 in 2018.
• Data from 2018 to 2023 reveals that over 400 people died while cleaning septic tanks and sewers.

1. Legal Measures

1.1 Manual Scavengers (Prohibition and Rehabilitation) Act,2013 

• A “manual scavenger” is defined as a person engaged in manually cleaning human excreta in an insanitary latrine or an open drain, or on a railway track. 
• If anyone employs a manual scavenger or constructs an insanitary latrine, he can face imprisonment up to one year or a fine of Rs 50,000 or both.  
• Each occupier of an unsanitary latrine is responsible for demolishing it at his own cost. 
• Responsibility to identify Manual Scavenger is with the Local Government.
• Tasks the government to rehabilitate them in other jobs after training.

1.2 National Commission for Safai Karamchari

• Giving recommendations to the Government regarding specific programmes for the welfare of Safai Karamcharis.
• Monitor implementation of  Prohibition of Employment as  Manual  Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act,  2013.
• Enquire into complaints regarding contravention of the  Act.

2. Judicial Support

In 2014, Supreme court

• Manual Scavenging has to be ended.
• Directed the centre & states to rehabilitate the scavengers.  

3. Technology use

• The government has installed bio-digesters at public places, especially in the railways.

4. Swachh Bharat

• The scheme has a provision to construct the flush toilets and penalize the dry toilet pit construction.

5. Other Initiatives

• Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan: It is a national campaign to eradicate manual scavenging and rehabilitate the Manual Scavengers.
• Valmiki Malin Awas Yojana: To provide housing to the Safai Karamcharis.
• National Scheme for Rehabilitation of Scavengers: To provide training & rehabilitate them.

• Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: Currently, Rs. 12,000 is given to build a latrine. But latrines of poor quality requiring regular cleaning is built with such a low budget.
• The term is not defined properly as if protective gear is used; then government don’t count it as manual scavenging.
• Western toilets are used in India. But they require more water which is scarce in villages. It compels people to go for a dry toilet.