In simple terms, untreated human excreta are removed from pit latrines or bucket toilets using buckets or shovels by hand. Apart from legislative prohibitions, the past and present central governments have tried several approaches for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers during the. A detailed study of the prohibition of employment as. Implementation of manual scavengers act 20 in tamil nadu. Scavengers and their rehabilitation act,20 dealing with manual scavenging. Manual scavenging is regulated by the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation act, 20 which further reinforces the ban. In india, the practice of manual scavenging is banned since 1993 under the employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines. It was hoped that the proposed law would make up for the failings of the existing law. Manual scavenging is defined as the manual cleaning of latrines or the disposal of human excreta. Aug 25, 2014 aimed specifically at ending manual scavenging, the employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition act, 1993 the 1993 act, declared the employment of manual. The issue of manual scavenging has drawn a great amount of attention since many years. A manual scavenger is a person who performs this task.
This article talks about the plight of manual scavengers in indian. The provisions of this act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in the employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition act, 1993 or in any other law, or in any instrument having effect by. In 20, landmark new legislation in the form of the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation act was passed which reinforces prohibiting manual scavenging in all forms and rehabilitating manual scavengers, identified through a mandatory. In 2019, 5 people died in delhi during cleaning manholes standing in deep shit up to the neck. Manual scavenging a law without enforcement the csr journal. Manual scavenging is defined as the practice of removing the human and animal waste using brooms, baskets and tin plates from the dry latrines and further carrying it on the head to dispose of them to far off disposal grounds.
Manual scavenging a law without enforcement the csr. The introduction to the final act states that this act is meant to undo the historical injustices meted out to forestdwelling populations in not recognising their rights to land and. Manual scavenging is also a castebased violence and hence in violation of the principle laid down in article 17. In 20, the employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition act, 1993. However, an uncomplicated definition is given by the international labour organization, which describes the three forms of manual scavenging in india. The employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry. The official definition of a manual scavenger in indian law from 1993 is as follows. Dec 23, 2019 in 1993, india banned the employment of people as manual scavengers. The prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation act, 20 defines manual scavenging very clearly for the benefit of easy operationalization. Earlier manual scavenging includes only removal of human excreta by bare hand or tin plate and disposing them with the basket on head but the prohibition of manual scavenging and their rehabilitation act, 20 extended the scope of manual scavenging by including.
This resource guide provides a detailed description of the origins of manual scavenging. Manual scavenging an injustice towards caste and gender. Manual scavenging burning issues free pdf download. This is quite surprising that if policy wants to proceed, the most inhumane activity will be permitted to continue for. In in fact, a ccording to t he national advisory council, a lmost no one has b een punished. While the 1993 act banned manual scavenging in india, the 20 act provided for punishment for engaging any person for hazardous cleaning of sewers and. Cbse extra questions of class 8 chapter 8 pol science. Initiatives to eliminate manual scavenging drishti ias. Implementation of manual scavengers act 20 in tamil. The term manual scavenger has been defined under section 2j of the act, 1993. The prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and.
Manual scavenging was banned 25 years ago with the passing of the employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition act, 1993, but it continues to find practitioners. According to it, a manual scavenger means a person who is engaged in or employed for carrying human. Manual scavenging has been prohibited in india since 1993. Manual scavenging and dry latrines prohibition act 1993. Rehabilitation act was passed which reinforces prohibiting manual scavenging. The occupation persists mainly because of the continued presence of insanitary latrines. Apart from legislative prohibitions, the past and present central governments have tried several approaches for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers during the last decade. Construction of dry latrines prohibition act, 1993 provides for the prohibition of employment of manual scavengers as well as construction or continuance of.
In 20, the definition of manual scavenger was expanded to include persons employed in cleaning. Manual scavenging, the act of human removal of excreta from dry pit latrines, is detrimental to environmental, mental. Act, passed unanimously by both houses of parliament in 20, which outlawed the practice of manual scavenging completely. Mainly, dalit women and young girls performed this task. Manual scavenger means a person engaged or employed. This became an important landmark to free manual scavengers from designated traditional. In india, the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation act, 20, is an enactment in opposition to manual scavenging, which prohibits all types of cleaning of excreta manually and dry latrines, also cleaning of sewers, septic tanks, and gutters without proper types of equipment or protective gear. Jun 20, 2020 manual scavenging is a bolton the constitution. The prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation act and rule. Commission calls manual scavenging as one of the worst violations. The prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation act and rule organisations under the division. No plan to amend manual scavenging law, govt says 6 months. The national human rights commission has termed manual scavenging as one of the worst violations of human rights.
An act to provide for the prohibition of employment of manual scavengers as well as construction or continuance of dry latrines and for the. Manual scavenger means a person engaged or employed on regular or frequent. Catalogues or lists of new publications are available free of charge from. A new act and rules were adopted in 20 reinforcing this illegality. The earlier act, 1993 faced many problems only in operationalization.
As per section 2j of the employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition act, 1993 any person who is engaged or employed by an individual or a local authority for manually cleaning, carrying, disposing of, human waste from an insanitary latrine, open drain, pit, or railway track is a manual scavenger. In 1993, the government of india enacted the employment of manual. Currently, manual scavenging is prohibited by the employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition act, 1993, which was passed by parliament after six states passed resolutions requesting the centre to frame a law. The employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition act, 1993 is provided by the ministry of housing and urban poverty alleviation mhupa. Manual scavenging in india a case study free notes, pdf. Law on manual scavenging in india central government enacted employment of manual scavengers and constructions of dry latrines prohibitions act, 1993 but it failed to serve the purpose. According to the 1993 act manual scavenging involves continuance of communit. On september 18, 20, central government came up with new law on manual scavenging called the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their. The new draft law amends the 20 act, which in turn was brought in as an amendment to a 1993 act employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition act, 1993. The dirty picture key highlights the percentage of women engaged in manual scavenging is more than men. The prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their. Jun 08, 2020 the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation act, 20 gives a very exhaustive definition of manual scavengers.
Allocation for welfare of scheduled castes eutthaan. Sep 11, 2020 in 1993 the government had banned the practice of manual scavenging that included cleaning dry latrines. Employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition act, 1993 pdf file chapter i preliminar 1. Manual scavenging, caste, and discrimination in india hrw. 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.
This article dives into the reality of manual scavenging, its implications and the failure of prevention since the employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition act, 1993 and other safeguards which ban it furthermore the article provides for simple solutions to fully stopping the occupation from existing however it faces some obstacles and can only be tackled. The 20 prohibition of manual scavenging act 20 is an important step in ending manual scavenging says asif shaikh from jan sahas, but much more needs to be done to ensure timebound and comprehensive rehabilitation of women and vulnerable communities that are trying to break free from manual scavenging. Employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry. It defines in 20, the manual scavenging act, 1993 was amended to manual scavenging as a practice by which dalits remove address hazardous cleaning, defined as the engagement of excreta from public and private dry pit latrines and carry workers to clean sewers without adequate protective gear. The employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition act, 1993, aimed at addressing the issue of manual scavenging in larger perspectives, but government failed to enforce the law for over 18 years as a result of which tens of thousands of people still continue to be engaged in manual scavenging. Sep 10, 20 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. Manual scavenging is defined as the removal of human excrement from public streets and dry latrines, cleaning septic tanks, gutters and sewers.
An analysis of the practice of manual scavenging and its. Users can click on the provided link to access the act. The employment of manual scavengers and construction of. Pdf manual scavenging a case of denied rights researchgate. Oct 23, 2020 the employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition act was passed by the parliament in 1993, and set imprisonment of up to one year and a fine of rs 2,000 for pushing a person to manual scavenging. Manual scavenging in india reasons and responses upsc. Prohibition of employment of manual scavengers, etc. In 1993, the government passed the employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition act. Manual scavenging is a term used mainly in india for manually cleaning, carrying, disposing of. The law has ended manual scavenging as a form of employment. After the 20 act was passed it covered all forms of manual scavenging.
The dehumanising practice of manual scavenging is officially banned since decades in india under the employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition act, 19933which makes provisions for the abolition of this practice, and for the identification and rehabilitation of manual. A detailed study of the prohibition of employment as manual. But the problem continues even after enacting the new legislation. The employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition act, 1993. In 1993, india prohibited the employment of people as manual scavengers.
Manual scavengers use basic tools such as a bucket lined with a sack and a handle. Liberation and rehabilitation of manual scavengers impact journals. The 1993 act prohibiting manual scavenging defines manual scavenger as a person engaged in or employed for manually carrying human excreta. It is a big loophole in the act because it empowers the government to exclude the law provisions. The anathema manual scavenging was banned 25 years ago with the passing of the employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition act, 1993, but it continues to find practitioners. The process of a fresh survey of the manual scavengers in the statutory towns, has been initiated. In 2003, the safai karmachari andolan ska had filed a petition in the supreme court seeking the implementation of the popular employment of manual scavengers act of 1993. Employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition act, 1993 criminalized employment of manual scavengers. Pdf manual scavenging is a profession which has been in existence. This landmark legislation by the parliament has to be translated into concrete measures. At the same time, social security schemes were extended to make sure that former manual scavengers will be enabled to build a new life with a decent job. Cbse class 8 political science civics chapter 8 notes. Under this, no person, local authority or agency should engage or employ people for hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic. Sep 08, 2020 act 46 of 1993 5th june, 1993 an act to provide for the prohibition of employment of manual scavengers as well as construction or continuance of dry latrines and for the regulation of construction and maintenance of waterseal latrines and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
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