Manual
scavenging
still survives in parts of India without proper sewage systems. It
is thought to be most prevalent in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar
Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Some municipalities in India still run public
dry-toilets. The manual removal of human and
animal excreta is done using brooms,
small tin plates, and baskets carried on the head. The allocation of
labour on the basis of caste is one of the fundamental tenets of the
Hindu caste
system. Within this system, Dalits have been assigned tasks and occupations which are deemed ritually polluting by other caste communities - such as sweeping, disposal of dead animals and leather work. By reason of their birth, Dalits are considered to be "polluted", and the removal of human and animal waste by members of the "sweeper" community is allocated to them and strictly enforced Due to the nature of the job, many of the workers have related health problems. There are about 3.5 lakh people who work as manual scavengers in India. It is noteworthy that the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Bill, was passed by Parliament on September 8, 2013 The Bill prescribes stringent punishment, including imprisonment up to five years. The Bill has a wider scope for higher penalties than what was provided under the 1993 Act. Offences under the Bill are cognisable and non-boilable and may be tried summarily. It has provisions for rehabilitation of manual scavengers and their family members as well. Under the new law, each occupier of an insanitary latrine is responsible for converting or demolishing it at his own cost. If he fails to do so, the local authority will convert the latrine and recover the cost from him. Each local authority, cantonment board and railway authority are responsible for surveying insanitary latrines within their jurisdiction. The new law includes provisions for rehabilitation of manual scavengers and their family members as well. This Bill has a wider scope for higher penalties than what was provided under the 1993 Act . The Bill seeks to prohibit employment of individuals as manual scavengers by prescribing stringent punishment, including imprisonment up to five years, to those employing such labour and also their rehabilitation. But mere passing of the Bill is not going to solve the problem. Concrete steps have to be taken to implement the Act. It is great that Supreme Court has proposed to examine the provisions of the Act threadbare to see whether it meets necessary requirements to wipe out the social stigma attached to a section of society.
Decan Herald, September 10, 2013
system. Within this system, Dalits have been assigned tasks and occupations which are deemed ritually polluting by other caste communities - such as sweeping, disposal of dead animals and leather work. By reason of their birth, Dalits are considered to be "polluted", and the removal of human and animal waste by members of the "sweeper" community is allocated to them and strictly enforced Due to the nature of the job, many of the workers have related health problems. There are about 3.5 lakh people who work as manual scavengers in India. It is noteworthy that the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Bill, was passed by Parliament on September 8, 2013 The Bill prescribes stringent punishment, including imprisonment up to five years. The Bill has a wider scope for higher penalties than what was provided under the 1993 Act. Offences under the Bill are cognisable and non-boilable and may be tried summarily. It has provisions for rehabilitation of manual scavengers and their family members as well. Under the new law, each occupier of an insanitary latrine is responsible for converting or demolishing it at his own cost. If he fails to do so, the local authority will convert the latrine and recover the cost from him. Each local authority, cantonment board and railway authority are responsible for surveying insanitary latrines within their jurisdiction. The new law includes provisions for rehabilitation of manual scavengers and their family members as well. This Bill has a wider scope for higher penalties than what was provided under the 1993 Act . The Bill seeks to prohibit employment of individuals as manual scavengers by prescribing stringent punishment, including imprisonment up to five years, to those employing such labour and also their rehabilitation. But mere passing of the Bill is not going to solve the problem. Concrete steps have to be taken to implement the Act. It is great that Supreme Court has proposed to examine the provisions of the Act threadbare to see whether it meets necessary requirements to wipe out the social stigma attached to a section of society.
Decan Herald, September 10, 2013
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