{"id":33597,"date":"2024-12-12T18:44:10","date_gmt":"2024-12-12T13:14:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=33597"},"modified":"2024-12-12T18:44:12","modified_gmt":"2024-12-12T13:14:12","slug":"india-manual-scavenging-issue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/12-12-2024\/india-manual-scavenging-issue","title":{"rendered":"Issue of Manual Scavenging in India"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Governance\/Human Rights<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Supreme Court vowed to go to <strong>\u201cany extent possible\u201d<\/strong> to ensure that manual scavenging is wiped out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The SC was referring to its <strong>2023 judgment<\/strong> in which it had issued directions to the Union and States to take measures to eradicate manual scavenging and hazardous cleaning in the country.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Highlights of 2023 Judgement:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Frame policies to ensure that manual sewer cleaning is completely eradicated in a phased manner.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>All states and Union Territories should ensure that the guidelines and directions framed by the Union of India are embodied in their own guidelines and directions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Full rehabilitation measures are taken in respect of sewage workers, and those who die.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Development of a portal containing information relating to sewer deaths, and victims, and the status of compensation disbursement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increase in compensation payable for sewer deaths to \u20b930 lakh from the earlier \u20b910 lakh.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Manual Scavenging<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Manual scavenging refers to the practice of manually cleaning, carrying, or disposing of human excrement from latrines, open drains, and sewers, often using basic tools or even bare hands.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is historically and predominantly associated with the caste system in India, where individuals from specific marginalized groups were into this form of labor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Prohibition of Manual Scavenging: <\/strong>The Act explicitly prohibits the employment of people in manual scavenging, it makes it illegal to engage in or promote manual scavenging in any form.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ban on Construction of Dry Latrines: <\/strong>The Act bans the construction of dry latrines (toilets that do not use water or modern sanitation systems) and mandates the conversion into sanitary ones using modern technology.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Penalties for Violations: <\/strong>With imprisonment upto 2 years or fine upto Rs. One Lakh or both.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers: <\/strong>The law emphasizes the rehabilitation of manual scavengers by providing them with financial support, housing, and access to alternative livelihoods.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Identification and Survey of Manual Scavengers: <\/strong>The Act requires the government to conduct a survey to identify and document the people involved in manual scavenging across the country.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>National and State Commissions: <\/strong>The Act establishes a National Commission for Safai Karamcharis and state-level commissions to monitor the implementation of the law, as well as to oversee the rehabilitation efforts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Challenges in Implementation:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Non-compliance by local authorities and employers: <\/strong>In some areas, the practice continues due to lack of proper enforcement and awareness.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Social stigma:<\/strong> Deep-rooted social and caste-based discrimination continues to hinder the social reintegration of manual scavengers into more dignified occupations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Inadequate Rehabilitation:<\/strong> There have been reports of poor implementation of rehabilitation schemes, with many manual scavengers not receiving the support they are entitled to under the law.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Government Initiatives\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Swachh Bharat Mission (2014): <\/strong>Launched to improve sanitation across India, this initiative aims to eliminate open defecation and convert dry latrines into sanitary ones, thereby reducing the need for manual scavenging.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC): <\/strong>Established to provide financial assistance for the welfare and rehabilitation of manual scavengers and their families. It offers loans for skill development, self-employment, and business ventures.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Skill Development Programs: <\/strong>The government provides training and skill development programs for manual scavengers to help them transition into alternative, dignified livelihoods.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Self-Employment and Livelihood Support: <\/strong>Under various schemes, financial assistance is provided for self-employment and small businesses, enabling manual scavengers to find alternative occupations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>NAMASTE (National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem) scheme:<\/strong> It\u00a0 aims to eliminate the practice of manual scavenging by promoting the use of mechanized equipment for cleaning sewers and septic tanks.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It aims at modernizing sanitation practices, protecting workers from hazardous conditions, and promoting safer, more efficient systems for waste management.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Ahead\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Strict Enforcement of Laws:<\/strong> Strengthening the implementation of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, with harsher penalties for violations and robust monitoring systems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Promotion of Mechanization:<\/strong> Widespread use of mechanized equipment to clean sewers and septic tanks, reducing manual labor and ensuring worker safety.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rehabilitation and Skill Development:<\/strong> Comprehensive training programs to help manual scavengers transition to alternative livelihoods, along with financial support for self-employment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Social Awareness:<\/strong> To eliminate the caste-based stigma associated with manual scavenging, promoting dignity, and fostering social inclusion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Inclusive Policies and Support: <\/strong>Targeted government schemes to provide welfare, education, housing, and healthcare to affected communities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/our-drive-against-manual-scavenging-will-continue-supreme-court\/article68974018.ece#:~:text=The%20Supreme%20Court%20on%20Wednesday,We%20will%20not%20leave%20it.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Supreme Court vowed to go to \u201cany extent possible\u201d to ensure that manual scavenging is wiped out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33597","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33597","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33597"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33597\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33598,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33597\/revisions\/33598"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33597"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33597"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33597"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}