Day #6: As the Bhim Rudan Yatra continues…the uglier side of many Dalit lives: Manual Scavenging

Trigger warning: You may see disturbing images of human beings doing inhumane tasks that the society at large continues to turn a blind eye to.

Today, we would like to take a moment away from the Bhim Rudan Yatra to shine light on the most dangerous and inhuman occupation that has been thrust upon some Dalit communities and other ‘lower castes’ from time immemorial: “Manual Scavenging,” i.e., manually removing human excreta, cleaning sewers and septic tanks at great risk to their health and well-being.

Despite many laws prohibiting such work and strictures against employing anyone to do such work, the practice continues with impunity – often, with workers who want to leave the profession, but do not have any other skills or training that would make them employable, even if they could overcome the social stigma of their inherited profession.

Scores of workers die a premature death every year or die while cleaning septic tanks with no safety support systems. 

As India enters its 75th year of independence, a union of such workers, Safai Karmachari Andolan, has launched a nation-wide protest demanding the total eradication of Manual Scavenging. 

For those unfamiliar with the topic, here’s an abstract from a recent study “An Analysis of the Safai Karmachari Andolan Case”  Feb 2019: 

“Started in 1997, Safai Karmachari Andolan (SKA) is a national movement for eradicating the practice of manual scavenging—an occupation which involves cleaning of dry latrines with tin plates and brooms and carrying of human excreta by members of lower castes. The SKA has been leading the public campaign to destroy illegal dry latrines and for the proper implementation of the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993. In 2003, SKA, with 18 other organizations, filed a public interest litigation petition in the Supreme Court of India seeking eradication of manual scavenging, liberation of all manual scavengers from their degrading jobs, and initiation of measures for their rehabilitation. The SKA also works for the dignity and better working conditions for sanitation workers such as sewage workers, pit workers, and sweepers…”

This recent video published in The Wire tells the Stories of these sanitation workers in some graphic detail. The images are not meant merely to shock the viewers, but to motivate all of us to not only support the immediate demands of the workers, but to add our moral voice to broader efforts to end untouchability by legal means and by massive public education – which is the goal of the Bhim Rudan Yatra, with which you have stood in solidarity by signing this petition.

Please help us add more voices of solidarity by sharing this petition widely.

Thanks for listening.

We are looking forward to what happens in Delhi tomorrow with the Bhim Rudan marchers.

Raju at Hindus for Human Rights USA