Its a national shame, but it is also a fact that there are still a few thousand people engaged in the same. Following this, the court noted that manual scavenging is a contravention of human rights and the right to live with dignity enshrined by the constitution. This comes to around 7% of the 2011 social economic census. The state of maharashtra, with 63,7, tops the list with the largest number of households working as manual scavengers, followed by the states of madhya pradesh, uttar pradesh, tripura and karnataka. Absence of a full census of both the latrines and the people engaged in clearing such. Government claims to have assisted 91% of indias manual. Important factors hinder rehabilitation of workers freed. Manual scavenging manual scavenging eventually became a castebased occupation, which involves the removal of untreated human excreta from bucket toilets or pit latrines. Salient features of indian society legacy ias academy. In 1993, india banned the employment of people as manual scavengers.
Salient features of indian society onlyias nothing. It was hoped that the proposed law would make up for the failings of the existing law. The practice of manual scavenging is linked to india s caste system where socalled lower castes were expected to perform this job. The manual scavenging bill 2012 a critical analysis the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill2012 was introduced in the lok sabha in september 2012 with a commitment of removing the historically iniquitous, casteordained practice of. Manual scavenging best upsc coaching top ias coaching in.
According to the socio economic and caste census, 2011, 167,487 households reported a member of the household as a manual scavenger. Socio economic and caste census secc released in 2015, states tha. This puts the number of manual scavengers in india at. It also directed the central and the state governments to ensure the implementation of the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation act, 20. Manual scavenging in india reasons and responses upsc. This comes to around 7% of the 2011 social economic census figure.
The 2011 census of india found 794,000 cases of manual scavenging across india. Govt aims to eliminate manual scavenging by august 2021. Manual scavengers are amongst the poorest and most disadvantaged communities in india. What steps has the government of india taken to end manual scavenging in india. There are 472 million children in india under the age of 18 years. It has been officially abolished by the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation act 20. Support states initiatives and provide technical assistance to develop suitable livelihood programs, both immediate and long term, to assist manual scavenging communities. Iastoppers upsc ias exam online preparation ias strategy. Scavenging has been an occupation imposed upon certain citizens of the country by the society, which later on continued as a traditional occupation among scheduled castes. Encourage the governance to uphold its commitments to end manual scavenging. It mostly involves using the most basic tools like buckets, brooms, and baskets. In 1993, india outlawed and prohibited the employment of people as manual scavengers.
The national scheme for liberation and rehabilitation of scavengers and their dependents nslrs was started for providing alternative employment to the ex. The manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition act enacted in 1993 by the government of india prohibits manual scavenging in the country. Manual scavenging in india despite being illegal why manu. In 1993, the government of india enacted the employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition act. Even the local police did not intervene in such matters. The houselisting and housing census, 2011 reported that there are about 26 lakh insanitary latrines in the cou. Manual scavenging refers to the practice of manually cleaning, carrying. Thus, hereby discussing the issue of manual scavenging in india. Manual scavenging in india today according to the reports by human rights watch, over the years, several women had attempted to leave the job of manual scavenging but failed at it because the household that they served used to threaten them. Whereas, the ska estimated that the numbers of such scavengers were around 12 lakh, which seems more reasonable, given the fact that the census of 2011. The manual scavenging bill2012 a critical analysis. Addressing manual scavenging continuous presence of insanitary latrines. Manual scavenging causes and way forwards issues and. There are possibly over 12 lakh manual scavengers across india.
Manual scavenging in india despite being illegal why. According to a report tabled in the rajyasabha in 2016, 22,327 lose their lives every year due to manual scavenging. Involving women in the economy is not a social cause, rather it is a source of efficiency gains and economic growth. Manual scavenging in india a case study for upsc pscnotes.
The hindu news analysis 11 january 2021 the exams made. The act prohibits the employment of manual scavengers, manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks without protective equipment. There are 8000 urban areas and 6 lakhs villages and accidents are more in urban and large parts. This, is because in india, sanitation work is caste ridden and hence. The existing law, employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition or emscdl act, which was passed in 1993, also banned manual scavenging, but till date the practice of manual scavenging continues in india. Ensure that all support for sanitation projects in india require an immediate end to manual scavenging. According to the population census 2011, manual scavenging, even after being banned, is the primary occupation of over 1. Socioeconomic and caste census secc released in 2015, states that there were around 18 million manual scavenging households in rural areas. Meaning of manual scavenging ms is a castebased occupation involving the removal of untreated human excreta from insanitary or dry latrines it has been officially abolished by law in india as a dehumanizing practice the manual scavengers and their rehabilitation act msra, 20 has replaced the 1993 act.
Manual scavenging is the practice of manually cleaning, carrying, or handling human excreta from dry latrines and sewers. The menace of manual scavenging in india forumias blog. It is but obviously a grossly underreported survey, given the fact that the socioeconomic caste census of 2011 identified 1,82,505 households with the primary occupation of manual scavenging. Any person who has been employed to handle undecomposed human waste from an insanitary latrine, open drain or pit or railway track is a manual scavenger. Representatives of all the three major races of the world. In 20, prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, to ban manual scavenging and rehabilitate those who were forced to do it, was introduced. The harsh reality of manual scavenging in india upsc. Examine the progress made so far by india in achieving the sustainable development goal of reducing infant mortality. This class of citizens of india is known as manual scavengers. Manual scavenging refers to the practice of manually cleaning, carrying, disposing or handling in any manner, human excreta from dry latrines and sewers.
Failing the sanitation worker again the indian express. Manual scavenging death toll increased ias gatewayy. Highest numbers of manual scavengers were identified in the state of maharashtra. The report, was jointly authored by the international labour organization ilo, wateraid, world bank, and who. India still has people who are in the profession of manual scavenging. Initiatives to eliminate manual scavenging drishti ias. Manual scavenging is linked to indias caste system where the socalled low castes were expected to perform this job. India has the worlds second highest number of languages, after papua new guinea. Manual scavenging exists primarily because of absence of water borne latrines. Manual scavenging has been imposed on india due to absence of adequate sanitation facilities. Caste census 2011 figures appraisal of govt efforts. Despite laws and regulations being in place in india, the practice of manual scavenging has not been curtailed but has been forced underground, according to a report released by world health organisation who on november 14, 2019. On grounds of violations of the fundamental rights guaranteed under articles 14, 17, 21 and 23 of the constitution of india, in 2003, the safai karmachari andolan filed a writ petition under article 32 that the continuation of manual scavenging and presence of dry latrines. The ministry of social justice and empowerment defines a scavenger as the one who is partially or wholly engaged in the obnoxious and inhuman occupation of manually.
Manual scavenging in india despite being illegal why manual scavenging exists in india. Even in 2020, the indian government and our civil society continue to grapple with the inhuman nature of manual scavenging. A government survey identifies 12,226 manual scavengers in 12 states. In 1993, the government of india enacted the employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition act which. Only states have been able to identify 12,742 manual scavengers. According to socioeconomic and caste census 2011 of rural india, 1,80,657 rural households surveyed were engaged in manual scavenging. Despite the law in place to prevent manual scavenging, it still persists in india. Manual scavenging in india despite being illegal why manual. Answeredwhat do you understand by manual scavenging. Most septic tanks are emptied manually in indian cities. This constitutes 39% of the total population in the country census 2011.
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