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What is manual scavenging?
Manual scavenging is where people are forced to clean human waste by hand and is seen as the ‘role’ of certain communities, such as the Dalits, depending on birth.
This practice isn’t just dangerous – it's deadly. Mostly carried out by women, manual scavenging puts lives at risk and strips people of their dignity. Many face chronic illness and even death, all due to discrimination.
We heard from Poonam (a volunteer with SKA) and Manju (a hospital worker) on their experience.
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According to Bezwada Wilson, National Convenor of Safai Karmachari Andolan (SKA), manual scavenging is driven by a patriarchal society. He explained that when people move to cities or towns, the only job available is clearing human excreta from dry latrines without water facilities. People must then collect those fecal matters with a basket and fill a bucket to take to dumping yards to dispose.
‘This is a practice prohibited by the law, by the government of India in 1993. But still, it continues in many parts of the country.’
Indian society is divided into thousands of castes, placing the Dalits at the very bottom of the social hierarchy and deemed to be outcastes given they don’t fall within the fourfold Varna system; a traditional social classification in Hinduism, divides society into four primary groups: Brahmins (priests, teachers), Kshatriyas (warriors, rulers), Vaishyas (traders, merchants), and Shudras (laborers).
There are over 250 million Dalits and very little documentation on the historical roots. They’re referred to as the ‘untouchables’, or the ‘scheduled castes’. Mahatma Gandhi called them ‘Harijans’ or the ‘children of God’. But today they have opted to call themselves the ‘Dalits’, a Sanskrit word meaning crushed and downtrodden.
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I started working in the hospital in 2003 where I used to pick human waste off patients. I used to feel very dirty, I’d even vomit. But I had no choice – I had to clean it to raise my children.
I was ashamed of myself because I belonged to this caste. I asked my mother numerous times that why we didn’t leave the locality where we stayed but the answer was always same – wherever we go, we have to do the manual job of picking human waste.
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How Christian Aid and SKA are working to end manual scavenging in India
With the support of Christian Aid, Bezwada Wilson established SKA over 40 years ago. Christian Aid then started working with the SKA to eradicate manual scavenging in India.
In 1993, an act was passed to abolish manual scavenging but was limited to sanitation and only covered dry latrines. In turn, the definition of manual scavenging was restricted to a person employed for manually carrying human excreta, but there was no stress laid upon to address the rehabilitation of these workers.
After years of engagement with stakeholders including government, raising awareness and strengthening communities, however, The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act was passed in 2013.
The Act successfully prohibited the employment of manual scavengers and rehabilitated those working as manual scavengers as well as their families. The 2013 Act also promoted the use of modern technology to clean sewers and septic tanks, while ensuring that public officials are held accountable for employing or failing to prevent manual scavenging.
I have been working with Safai Karmachari Andolan for the last six years. I take care of a group called SKA as a volunteer. I gain knowledge from the organisation and pass it to other members of our community. With my life being better now I want others to have a good and dignified life too.
Christian Aid has supported local communities in India for over 50 years, with ‘local and community based marginalised organisations’ (Wilson).
Christian Aid has focused on the empowerment of Dalit communities over many years. In 2001, Christian Aid’s Christmas Appeal focus was on the Dalits. Twenty-three years on, the practice of untouchability still exists, despite laws that have been put in place to protect the Dalit people.
Christian Aid also work with another partner, Dalit Manav Vikas Kendra Samiti (DMKS), also known as Centre for Dalit Rights, who seek to defend, protect and promote the rights of the Dalits who are most discriminated against. They provide social and legal support, upholding rights protected by the Constitution of India.
Christian Aid was there at the beginning of the journey of the Safai Karmachari Andolan and it continues even now to work with the communities engaged in manual scavenging in the country till today.
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SKA is not only viewed as community driven but a women-focused movement working for dignity and self-respect.
Wilson explained that when the women work and fight against the norms of social orders in India, they always have hope; ‘because without the hope we cannot even live a single day'.
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The women of the Dalit Community share hope with others
Organisations and individuals are working to continue making a difference within the Dalit Community.
Equally, the Centre for Dalit Rights (CDR), an initiative of DMKS, brings together lawyers, activists, and journalists to defend the rights of Dalits, providing capacity building and making communities aware of their social welfare entitlements.
Thanks to SKA, the eradication of the manual scavenging is almost complete.
The courageous women who fought against such a 5000 years old inhuman and obnoxious practice coming out to the street, that makes always me to move forward. They are my hope.
I was very happy when the law passed. This gave me hope that we would also be able to live a good and dignified life.
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