Manual Scavenging: A Saga of Neglect

Manual Scavenging was the crucified expression of the credence kindled by the existing caste hierarchy-untouchability, dharma and karma. It was an activity which had been in existence in India since human advancement. These people used a piece of tin to lift the excrement into a woven basket and carried the same on their shoulder to dump the refuse at a faraway place. The Government of India promulgated plethora of legislations, committees, commissions and missions to examine the various aspects of this problem. However, to this day dalit community continued to be employed as manual scavengers since our caste-based mindset continued to stand in the way of abolition of this heinous practice. In a nutshell, this paper discuss manual scavenging and critically traces out the various immediate actions promulgated by the Government of India. It concludes that the continuance of this practice and the stigma attached to manual scavenging proves that there is need for social transformation of people at large and in addition, also suggests few remedial measures to demolish the foundation of manual scavenger’s indignity.