Page 216 - SST Class 08

As a result of their contribution, the Constitution villages still keep separate, often broken utensils
of India has abolished untouchability. Now, to serve them.
practising untouchability is a punishable offence The National Commission for Safai Karamcharis, a
with imprisonment and/or fine. The Constitution
statutory body, pointed in its report to the use of
has also provided that the untouchables cannot be dry latrines and continued employment of manual
barred from entering public places or using public
scavengers by various departments of the
places and facilities.
Government of India, particularly the railways, the
Activity armed forces and the ministry of industry. While
states like Haryana deny employing manual
Collect the pictures of the social reformers who
tried their best to abolish untouchability in the scavengers, other states like Andhra Pradesh
society. Also write few sentences about them. employ them through municipalities. The practice
is on in almost all states. The Indian railways is
MANUAL SCAVENGING one of the largest employers of manual
scavengers.
The term manual scavenging describes the daily
work of manually cleaning and removing human Mahatma Gandhi raised the issue of the horrible
faeces (night soil) from dry (non-flush) latrines. In working and social conditions of manual
scavengers more than 100 years ago in 1901. Yet
India, manual scavenging is a caste-based
occupation carried out by the depressed classes. it took about 90 years for the country to enact a
These classes are invariably placed at the bottom uniform law abolishing manual scavenging. The
Employment of Manual Scavengers and
of caste hierarchy, even within their own caste.
Using a broom, a tin plate and a drum, they clear Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act ,
and carry human excreta from public and private 1993 punishes the employment of scavengers or
the construction of dry (non-flush) latrines with
latrines, more often on their heads, to dumping
grounds and disposal sites. imprisonment for up to one year and/or a fine of
`2,000. Offenders are also liable to prosecution
Though considered illegal, manual scavenging is under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
forced onto these depressed classes by caste (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. This Act aims
pressure. Scavengers earn anywhere between `20 at restoring the dignity of the individual as
to `160 a month and are exposed to the most enshrined in the Preamble to the Constitution.
virulent forms of viral and bacterial infections that
affect their skin, eyes, limbs, respiratory and Recently the Supreme Court has directed every
gastrointestinal systems. Official figures show that department/ministry of central and state
governments to indicate a time-bound programme
there are still 3.43 lakh scavengers in the country.
A 2002 report gave estimates of one million with targets for liberating and rehabilitating all
manual scavengers in India. manual scavengers.
Quiz Time
Just Think!
Fill in the blanks :

Is the system of manual scavenging prevalent in 1. Tribals in India are also known as __________ .
the area in which you live? How do you think this 2. The __________ can be on the basis of
practice can be eradicated? language or religion.

A random survey in 2002 of six states claimed that 3. The __________ needs the services of different
manual scavengers were found in at least 30,000 types.
dry toilets. The survey found that the scavengers
4. The constitutional provisions have certainly
face severe discrimination even from other
raised the standard of life for the __________
depressed classes. Teashop owners in some
classes.
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