Manual Scavenging - History

History

Manual scavenging is said to have started in 1214 in Europe when the first public toilets appeared. The water closet was invented by John Harrington in 1596. In 1870, S.S. Helior invented the flush type toilet, and it became common in the Western world. This caused other types of toilets to disappear in the Western world. All surface toilets were abandoned in western Europe in mid-1950s.

In India in 1970s, Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak introduced his "Sulabh" concept for building and managing public toilets in India, which has introduced hygienic and well-managed public toilet system.

Manual scavenging still survives in parts of India without proper sewage systems. In 1970s the state of Karnataka passed a law to ban manual scavenging. The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993 punishes the employment of scavengers or the construction of dry (non-flush) latrines with imprisonment for up to one year and/or a fine of Rs 2,000. However some municipalities still run public dry-toilets. And the biggest violator of this law in India is Indian Railways which has toilets dropping all the excreta on the grounds/stations and they employ scavengers to clean it manually. India has plans to pass a Bill prohibiting manual scavenging in Q3 2012 due to Satyamev Jayate TV SHOW Impact: Maharashtra government has planned to abolish the menace of manual scavenging completely from the state in the next coming days.

Manual Scavenging: The Inhuman Slavery Even after 64 years of independence which saw rampant developments and success in the field of science, industries and various other arenas that enabled the country to establish itself firmly, globally, India still struggles in the clutches of caste system which derogates the very existence of human life and dignity.

Manual scavenging is a caste-based and hereditary occupation for Dalits (Untouchables) that is predominantly linked with forced labour or slavery. It is estimated that around 1.3 million Dalits in India, mostly women, make their living through manual scavenging, which involves removing human excrement from dry toilets and sewers. Manual scavenging is done with basic tools like thin boards and either buckets or baskets lined with sacking and carried on the head.

Manual scavengers earn as little as one rupee a day. Though this vile and inhumane practice was abolished by law in India in 1993 the practice is deeply entrenched in South Asian societies. A historic Supreme Court Ruling in May 2009 may help bring an end to this abhorrent practice in India. The Court held Government appointed District Collectors responsible for not eradicating the demeaning and hazardous practice. Dalit scavengers are rarely able to take up another occupation due to discrimination related to their caste and occupational status, and are thus forced to remain scavengers. They are paid less than minimum wages and are often forced to borrow money from upper-caste neighbours in order to survive and consequently they end up maintaining the relationship of bondage.

“The manual removal of human and animal excreta 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 leatherwork. 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…” United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, 27th Session, Geneva, 27-31 May 2002