Manual scavenging remains a blot on India’s governance. Since 2017, one manual scavenger has died every five days, as per data from the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis. Identify the major problems and suggest remedial measures to prevent this practice in future. (200 Words)
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IAS Parliament 6 years
KEY POINTS
Major problems in banning the practice
· Most of the times, standard safety practices weren’t followed and the deceased had not been provided any safety gear.
· states have resorted to simply under-reporting the population of manual scavengers in their respective jurisdictions—some have even claimed that they don’t have a single manual scavenger.
· The definition of a “manual scavenger” as per the law doesn’t recognise septic tank and sewer-line cleaners as manual scavengers.
· A large number of toilets, including many built under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), in the absence of a sewerage system, rely on waste collection in small pits—this has led to hiring of manual scavengers for cleaning.
· Indeed, the government employs people for this routinely, the most prominent example of this being the Railways.
Remedial Measures
· Sensitisation, counselling and awareness campaigns can help, but what is really needed is the providing of suitable alternative jobs for manual scavengers, especially women.
· People need to change their attitude and spread awareness about the ill-effects of this practice. Reporting to concerned authorities is one of the effective solution in addressing the problem.
· Government should work with NGOs like Safai Karamchari Andolan to design and develop machines which disposes the waste safely and effectively.
· Kerala engineers who developed robot called Bandicoot to clean manholes and are on a mission to end manual scavenging. This needs to happen in each and every state of India.
· Relief and rehabilitation for those families who lost their dear ones by this practice.
Rahul 6 years
Pls review
IAS Parliament 6 years
Good
answer. Keep Writing.
Sandeep 6 years
Kindly review thanks
IAS Parliament 6 years
Good attempt. Keep Writing.
Lakshmi ramanujam 6 years
Plz review...
IAS Parliament 6 years
Good answer. Keep Writing.
Ashita jain 6 years
Plz review...
IAS Parliament 6 years
Try including sensitisation,awareness programme, role of NGOs in remedial measures etc. Keep Writing.
