The safai karmachari andolan, an organization that works for the rights of sanitation workers, argues that the real figure is closer to more than six times the seccs estimate. It is but obviously a grossly underreported survey, given the fact that the socio economic caste census of 2011 identified 1,82,505 households. Households employing manual scavengers prefer women to clean the dry latrines as they are generally located inside the house. Causes of manual scavenging the major latrine used in urban areas and cities are the dry latrines which are a major cause of manual scavenging. After 25 years of broken promises, india is counting its. Jul 23, 2016 although manual scavenging is prohibited in the country, as per the latest socioeconomic caste census data released in 2015, india still has 1,80,657 households that make a living from manual. Since its inception in 1970, sulabh international, under the leadership of dr. Why does india still not have a database of manual scavengers. A man escaping from manual scavenging work from jabalpur set up a. The latest socioeconomic caste census data reveals that 1, 80, 657 households are engaged in this degrading work for a livelihood. Mar 23, 2021 the supreme court on monday said it cannot compel state governments to file their response on the issue of manual scavenging, but can still proceed with the hearing in the matter. Statistical representation of the death toll of manual scavengers from 20152019.
Oct 23, 2020 despite banning it 28 years ago through a law, technological advancements increasing sensitivity to human rights, manual scavenging persists in india. In step with the india s 2011 census, there were 2. According to the official 2011 census, dalits constitute. Even after 70 years of independence and 25 years after it has been declared illegal, it is very depressing and unfortunate to see manual scavenging still being practised in india. Aug 25, 2014 there is no official data on the total number of manual scavengers in india, while the 2011 census data shows that an estimated 2. In 20, the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation act pemsr5 replaced this 1993 legislation, by expanding the definition of manual scavengers to include most categories of. Over the past three years alone, 88 deaths related to manual scavenging have been recorded in india despite a ban on the practice. As per the 2011 socioeconomic and case census, 1,82,505 rural households in india were dependent on manual scavenging for income. In states like uttar pradesh, several women are employed in removing excreta from dry toilets. Manual scavenging a law without enforcement the csr. The process of a fresh survey of the manual scavengers in the statutory towns, has been initiated. As per a report on down to earth, there are around 1. Oct 12, 2020 even after 70 years of independence and 25 years after it has been declared illegal, it is very depressing and unfortunate to see manual scavenging still being practised in india.
The ongoing socio economic caste census secc, 2011, in rural india is, inter alia, capturing the data about the manual scavengers in rural areas, including the nonstatutory towns. Though a law was passed in 1993 to prohibit manual scavenging, there are 794390 dry latrines cleaned by manual scavengers, mostly women, in india 2011 census. The 2011 census of indiafound 794,000 cases of manual scavenging across india 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. She highlighted the plight of manual scavengers and said. Manual scavenging refers to the practice of manually cleaning, carrying, disposing or handling in any manner, human excreta from dry latrines and sewers. Indias far from modis target of ending manual scavenging.
Assuming there is only one person in those identified households doing manual scavenging, there are at least 182,505 manual scavengers in. Manual scavenging on in gujarat despite being prohibited. Such a dangerous and dehumanizing practice even after being made illegal is still active in india. The 2011 census records the presence of 740,078 households where waste and excreta is cleared out by manual scavengers. This has led to the coming up of biotoilets in trains for treating human excreta. Why manual scavengers in india havent got their rights. Nov 15, 2018 according to socio economic caste census 2011, 180,657 households are engaged in manual scavenging for a livelihood. S lakshman iyer the freedom fighter and the chairperson of. Mar 23, 2021 samajwadi party leader and mp jaya bachchan said manual scavenging is an embarrassment for india. It is extremely unfortunate to see that manual scavenging is still being practiced in our country. In 1993, india banned the employment of people as manual scavengers.
The still widespread practice of manual scavenging manual scavenging is still widespread in india. As per the socioeconomic caste census secc 2011, rural maharashtra alone has 65,181 households where at least one person is employed as a manual scavenger, the highest in the country, accounting for 35 per cent of the total 1. Census raises stink over manual scavenging times of india. Manual scavengers are employed in cleaning these latrines. The 2011 socioeconomic and caste census estimates that more than 182,000 indians work as manual scavengers, while human rights groups peg the number at 770,000. Despite banning it 28 years ago through a law, technological advancements increasing sensitivity to human rights, manual scavenging persists in india. The socioeconomic caste census of 2011 counted over 1.
But it did not count the scavengers and was silent on manual scavenging of faeces from sewage lines and railway tracks, wilson said. According to the census of india 2011, there are still 794,390 dry latrines in the country, where the human excreta is cleaned up by humans. During festivals and melas, where there are large gatherings of people, the practice of manual scavenging is widespread. Among indian states, tamil nadu has recorded the highest number of manual scavenging deaths in india.
As per statistics collected from the census of india 2011, there are about 182,505 manual scavengers that still exist in india, mainly in rural areas. Jun 26, 2017 there are 182,505 households in rural india with at least one member doing manual scavenging, according to socio economic and caste census 2011. For indias castebased sewer cleaners, an uncertain robot rescue. Assuming there is only one person in those identified households doing manual scavenging, there are at least 182,505 manual scavengers in india. Sep 18, 2018 the socioeconomic caste census of 2011 counted over 1.
The sanitation crisis in india an urgent need to look. In india, for example, there are approximately 26 million insanitary latrines based on a report by the housinglisting and housing census, 2011. Over 54,000 manual scavengers have been identified in india as of 2019, data from 11 is states unavailable. Socioeconomic and caste census secc released in 2015, states that there were around 18 million manual scavenging households in rural areas. Sep 20, 2019 manual scavenging is technically illegal in india, but in practice it thrives across the country. The practice of manual scavenging is linked to india s caste system where socalled lower castes were expected to perform this job. Rediff labs analysed the socioeconomic caste census 2011 data on number of manual scavengers in india. Indias abject failure on manual scavenging telegraph india. The very small and underresourced ska could leverage the might of the supreme court to draw attention to the heinous practice of manual scavenging in india.
Despite progress, manual scavenging persists in india. A report by housinglisting and housing census, 2011 indicates that there are approximately 26 million insanitary latrines. Oct 12, 2019 the socioeconomic caste census of 2011 counted over 1. States like uttar pradesh, bihar, madhya pradesh and more are ranked the highest having manual scavengers. The socioeconomic and caste census of 2011 had identified 1,80,657 households of manual scavengers across india. One of the main reasons for the existence of manual scavenging is usage of dry latrines. According to the 2011 census, there are 26,07,612 dry latrines in india. India first banned manual scavenging in 1993 with the employment of manual scavenging and construction of dry latrines prohibition act4. Practice of manual scavenging in india international dalit. Manual scavenging is a term used mainly in india for manually cleaning, carrying, disposing of, or otherwise handling, human excreta in an insanitary latrine or.
Another reason for the existence of manual scavenging is the continued usage of dry latrines in india. Yimf academia history of illegalising manual scavenging in late 1950s, g. Manual scavengers are amongst the poorest and most disadvantaged communities in india. India lower caste still removing human waste sanitation. Tracking the history of manual scavenging in india and its. Bindeshwar pathak, launched a nationwide movement to alleviate the plight of manual scavengers. Rights groups safai karamchari andolan pegs the number of manual scavengers across india at over 7 lakh. According to the socio economic caste census 2011, 180,657 households within india are engaged in manual scavenging for a livelihood. Over 1% of all households in both the urban as well as rural areas continue to rely even today on this practice. Sep 19, 2019 even after 70 years of independence, manual scavenging still persists in india. The biggest problem in addressing the issue of manual scavengers is the lack of central and state governments to accept that the practice still exists and declare actual figures related to the number of manual.
Manual scavenging is also a genderbased occupation with around 90 per cent of the workers being women. Earlier, the population census of 2011 had recorded nearly eight lakh household dry toilets from where, it said, humans removed raw faeces manually. Dalits are often limited from equal and meaningful political participation. Advocate ashima mandla, representing ngo criminal justice society of india, headed by senior advocate k. Sep 09, 2020 in 2019, india registered the highest number of deaths in the last five years, caused by manual scavenging. Oct 09, 2018 the 2011 census recorded 740,078 households that have their waste and faecal matter cleared out by manual scavengers. The new act of 20 brought under the purview of manual scavenging the indian railways as well. Jun 25, 2017 manual scavenging has been abolished in india, and the employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition act, 1993, made employing a manual scavenger a cognisable. Will hear manual scavenging issue even if all states dont. Secc 2011 was not conducted under 1948 census of india act, which in turn made information disclosure voluntary for citizens, and not a mandatory disclosure.
Apart from these there are 1,314,652 toilets where the human excreta is. Causes of manual scavenging in india less number of waterborne latrines. In india, in the urban areas, the major type of latrines used is the dry latrines which are a major cause of manual scavenging. Existence of manually serviced latrines in the statesuts points to the fact. The socioeconomic caste census of 2011 had summed up more than 1. Despite the passage of two legislations, the prevalence of manual scavenging is an open secret. Sep 19, 2018 the practice of manual scavenging, officially banned since decades in india, continues with impunity in several states. Their area unit,14,652 bathrooms wherever human body waste is flushed in open drains and 7,94,390 dry latrines wherever the human excretory product is clean manually. Maharashtra tops the list the practice of manual scavenging, officially banned since decades in india, continues with impunity in several states. Census data available in the country on manual scavengers is not accurate. The menace of manual scavenging in india forumias blog. Secc data doesnt include urban india where sewer cleaning is more frequent. The 2011 census of india found 794,000 cases of manual scavenging across india. Forum against manual scavenging, chennai, tamilnadu a collective of concerned scholars, journalists, activists 1 from provisional data from houselisting and housing census, census of india, 2011.
According to the census data there still are 794,390 dry latrines in the country where the human excreta is cleaned up by humans. If talked in percentage, the death toll increased by 61% in 2019 from 2018. Manual scavenging, caste, and discrimination in india hrw. There are,14,652 toilets where human excreta is flushed in open. In the most recent survey conducted in 201819 the government identified 54 persons in 170 districts of 18 states as being employed in manual scavenging.
Mar 15, 2021 at present, india has 50 lakh sanitation workers of whom over a third have done manual scavenging at some point. Important factors hinder rehabilitation of workers freed. International dalit solidarity network end caste discrimination. Even after the passage of the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation act, there are still around 15 lakh manual scavengers in india, of whom over 70 percent are women, according to 2019 data from the. Apr 03, 2012 census 2011 belies gujarat s claims,2,500 households still use manual scavenging for gujarat,that has declared itself as a manual scavenging free state since 1992,the data from census 2011 reveals a presence of over 2,500 households in the state where the night soil is removed physically by humans. The missing manual scavengers of india down to earth. After 25 years of broken promises, india is counting its manual scavengers.
Nov 30, 2020 causes of manual scavenging in india less number of waterborne latrines. Karnataka sweeper ends life after being forced to clean. According to the government of india, there are 54, manual scavengers across states post 20. Cases were also filed in the gujarat high court in 2004, in delhi in 2007, and in chennai in 2008, in which various petitioners drew the courts attention to manual scavenging and sewer. In addition, the socioeconomic caste census 2011 said that there are 182,505 families in rural india engaged in manual scavenging. Aug 25, 2014 union of india, databases and manuals for government schemes to end manual scavenging and rehabilitate individuals engaged as manual scavengers, documents from rashtriya garima abhiyan, and a wide. Jul 29, 2019 in 1993, india outlawed manual scavenging by passing the employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition act. Manual scavenging a law without enforcement the csr journal. Practice of manual scavengingis linked to india s caste system prevalent since ancient times where socalled lower castes were expected to perform this job. For indias castebased sewer cleaners, an uncertain robot. Secc 2011 also counted other aspects like manual scavenging and transgender count in india. Important factors hinder rehabilitation of workers freed from. At present, india has 50 lakh sanitation workers of whom over a third have done manual scavenging at some point.
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