NATIONAL SHAME: More than 8,000 manual scavengers
22 Nov 2012 5:50 AM IST
Though various state governments officially do not accept the presence of manual scavengers in their states, their presence has been documented by Safai Karmachari Andolan, an organisation working to abolish manual scavenging.
In their sample survey across fifteen states, the organisation has submitted to the supreme court that there are about 8,842 manual scavengers. However, according to the census there are twenty six lakh dry latrines in the country and it is estimated that the figure of manual scavengers will be about few lakhs.’
In a country where lakhs of families use dry toilets and where three lakh manual scavengers are working even on Wednesday, there can’t be a more shameful thing,’ said Rural development minister Jairam Ramesh. In an apparent dig to the people who criticised the minister for his comment that there are more temples in the country than toilets, Jairam said that those who had commented on his temple-toilet statement, should think about the three lakh people who are forced to do the shameful manual scavenging in the country.
The reluctance by the government to accept the presence of manual scavengers, could be understood from the fact that as of now there has been no government grant to the people who have been involved in manual scavenging. Also, in 2011-12, the ministry of social justice had set aside Rs 100 crores, as part of the loan giving facility to manual scavengers, however till date not a single loan has been availed. In an apparent effort to move people out of manual scavenging, the Rural Development Minister has decided the focus will be on developing alternative livelihood.
In their sample survey across fifteen states, the organisation has submitted to the supreme court that there are about 8,842 manual scavengers. However, according to the census there are twenty six lakh dry latrines in the country and it is estimated that the figure of manual scavengers will be about few lakhs.’
In a country where lakhs of families use dry toilets and where three lakh manual scavengers are working even on Wednesday, there can’t be a more shameful thing,’ said Rural development minister Jairam Ramesh. In an apparent dig to the people who criticised the minister for his comment that there are more temples in the country than toilets, Jairam said that those who had commented on his temple-toilet statement, should think about the three lakh people who are forced to do the shameful manual scavenging in the country.
The reluctance by the government to accept the presence of manual scavengers, could be understood from the fact that as of now there has been no government grant to the people who have been involved in manual scavenging. Also, in 2011-12, the ministry of social justice had set aside Rs 100 crores, as part of the loan giving facility to manual scavengers, however till date not a single loan has been availed. In an apparent effort to move people out of manual scavenging, the Rural Development Minister has decided the focus will be on developing alternative livelihood.
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