The manual scavenging bill 2012 a critical analysis the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill 2012 was introduced in the lok sabha in september 2012 with a commitment of removing the historically iniquitous, casteordained practice of manually handing human waste. Jairam ramesh pushes for passing bill banning manual. Bills parliament health, education and social welfare. The union government on monday told the supreme court that the cabinet had cleared the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012. They do their job standing all day in human waste, standing in the unbearable extreme stench of night soil. Envisages a hefty penalty for employing people for this inhuman practice and in the hazardous job of cleaning septic tanks and sewers. The prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and. Manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012, introduced in lok sabha. The prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012. The bill was introduced in lok sabha in september 2012 by then minister. Violations of the right to water and sanitation ohchr. The death of five manual scavengers in delhi on sunday september 10 testifies to the fact.
Aug 27, 2012 the union government on monday told the supreme court that the cabinet had cleared the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012. Manual scavenging is a result of indias caste divide sagarika ghose. The manual scavenging bill2012 a critical analysis ias. The prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012 1. Org prohibition of employment as manual scavengers. The manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition act enacted in 1993 by the government of india prohibits manual scavenging in the country. Aug 28, 2012 prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012. Rehabilitating manual scavengers english, hindi manual scavenging refers to the practice of manually cleaning, carrying, disposing or handling in any manner, human excreta from dry latrines and sewers.
Manual scavenging bill, passed in parliament, has several lacunae, is confined to urban areas by our representative meera mathew, a senior advocate at the supreme court of india, has said that the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012, pssed in parliament, has several major flaws. In september 2012, a new and expanded bill on manual scavenging was submitted to the indian parliament. Activists say the new billthe prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012lacks teeth and clarity, and, therefore, it is. Manual scavengers usually use hand tools such as buckets, brooms and shovels.
The manual scavenging bill2012 a critical analysis. The prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill 2012, introduced in september in the lok sabha, is not an ideal bill, but it does have a better approach because it. Manual scavenging international dalit solidarity network. Jairam ramesh pushes for passing bill banning manual scavenging. The draft for the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012 is under circulation to the concerned ministries and departments. The prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012, working papers id. Across india, castes that work as manual scavengers collect human excrement on a. Manual scavenging was banned 25 years ago with the passing of the employment of manual scavengers and construction of dry latrines prohibition act, 1993, but it continues to find practitioners.
In the presence of hundreds of protestors and supporters from different organisations and networks, a group of safai karamchari women burned the baskets of indignities amidst slogan shouting and took a vow that they will not take up brooms and basket again as they wished to live a life of dignity and respect. Manual scavengers protest against inhuman treatment umakant delhi. Initiated by bezwada, founder of delhibased safai karamchari andolan working for the empowerment of manual scavengers for more than two decades, the bhim yatra is an attempt to bring forth the. The draft for the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012 is under circulation to the concerned. Previously, the ministry of social justice and empowerment had introduced the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012 in the monsoon session of the parliament under grave pressure by the supreme court to prioritize the elimination of the dehumanizing practice of manual scavenging.
India lawmakers ban dehumanising manual scavenging fox news. As it awaits discussion, we raise the following demands. Bill aims to outlaw employment of manual scavengers and provide. Jan 21, 20 the 2012 bill explicitly prohibits construction of dry latrines, and employment of manual scavengers, as also the hazardous cleaning of a sewer or a septic tank. The prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their.
The official definition of a manual scavenger in indian law from 1993 is as follows. A discussion about the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012 passed by the parliament in august 20. The bill has provisions for providing for rehabilitation of manual scavengers and their family members as well. The words insanitary latrines and manual scavengers define taking into account real situation on the ground, finance minister p chidambaram told reporters in new delhi. This was possible due to the collective pressure by ngos. Prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012. They are subjected to ongoing, intergenerational torture, severe mental and physical pain rooted in caste based. Cleaning human waste manual scavenging, caste, and. It often involves using the most basic of tools such as buckets, brooms and baskets. Unlike the existing law on manual scavenging enacted 20 years ago, the new proposed law also provides for rehabilitation of manual scavengers, but it still has many shortcomings. The 2012 bill on banning manual scavenging cannot achieve its objective without a roadmap for rehabilitation. The prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012 a bill to provide for the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers, rehabilitation of manual scavengers and their families, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. Sep 24, 20 ironically, prakashwati and her former colleagues were in the city recently to participate in a function to mark the passing of the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012, organised by the national commission for safai karamcharis. Shyamwati has been cleaning dry latrines for 20 years.
Prohibition of employment as manual scavenging and their. Parliamentary committee has applauded a new bill that seeks to eliminate manual scavenging and insanitary latrines while providing for rehabilitation of people involved in the practice. Manual scavenging is a castebased and hereditary occupation for dalits untouchables, which is. Oct 03, 2012 2012 bill in india seeks to address manual scavenging manual scavenging, or the human disposal of human feces, is a common problem in many developing countries.
Govt ready with draft bill against manual scavenging. In december 2012, a twomonth long march to end manual scavenging the maila mukti yatra crossed 18 indian states and liberated thousands of dalit scavengers. A bill seeking to prohibit employment of individuals as manual scavengers by prescribing stringent punishment including imprisonment up to five years, to those employing such labour was passed by parliament on saturday. An elderly manual scavenger collects human waste while cleaning a toilet in nekpur village, uttar pradesh, on august 10, 2012. The bill prohibits the employment of manual scavengers, the manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks without protective equipment, and the construction of insanitary latrines.
The inhumane practice of manual scavenging enslaves estimated 12,00,000 people in india. Parliament passes bill banning manual scavenging livemint. But cleaning railway tracks has not been included, and hazardous cleaning is defined not by employers requiring workers to manually. In its efforts campaign attain to social, economic, political and cultural rehabilitation of manual scavenger. Priyanka parasharmint prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012, is the new bill that is to be passed by the parliament. Manual scavenging, caste, and discrimination in india hrw. The work is being regarded as a castebased, dehumanizing practice. Parliamentary panel applauds new bill to eliminate manual. Manual scavenging is a term used mainly in india for manually cleaning, carrying, disposing of, or otherwise handling, human excreta in an insanitary latrine or in an open drain or pit.
Bill to provide for the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers, rehabilitation of manual scavengers and. It seeks to rehabilitate manual scavengers and provide for their alternative employment. Manual scavengers should get the support of both the ngos and the government. The manual scavenging bill 2012 a critical analysis the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill2012 was introduced in the lok sabha in september 2012 with a commitment of removing the historically iniquitous, casteordained practice of manually handing human waste. Manual scavengers face an onslaught of health problems from close contact with human waste and the social oppression and stigma. In 20, prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, to ban manual scavenging and rehabilitate those who were forced to do it, was introduced. Manual scavenging is a castebased and hereditary occupation for dalits. What are some of your observations about the new bill the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012. Indian lawmakers have passed a longawaited bill to ban manual. While the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012 bans anyone from employing people in the cleaning of sewers, the practice continues on the ground. Parliamentary panel applauds new bill to eliminate manual scavenging. Manual scavenging bill, passed in parliament, has several. The bill was introduced on 3 september 2012 and it was referred to the standing committee on social justice and empowerment.
Activists say the new billthe prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012lacks teeth and clarity, and, therefore, it is unlikely to secure a living for manual scavengers. Manual scavenging is a term used mainly in india for manually cleaning, carrying, disposing of. This 96page report documents the coercive nature of manual scavenging. In 1997, india prohibited the utilization of individuals as manual scavengers. The prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012 the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012 was introduced in the lok sabha on september 3, 2012 by the minister of social justice and empowerment, mukul wasnik. Jan 28, 20 the bill requires district magistrates to ensure that no person in their jurisdictions is employed as a manual scavenger, that dry latrines are not constructed and all manual scavengers. Dec 19, 2012 on 3 rd september 2012, the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012 has been introduced in the lok sabha. Review open access the prohibition of employment as manual. As it awaits discussion, we put forth our recommendation and demand in the bill. Amid din over coal block allocation issue, the lok sabha on monday passed a bill which seeks to protect women, including lakhs employed as. Pdf the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and. In a welcome departure, the united progressive alliances prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012 recognises the group of.
Cabinet has cleared bill on manual scavenging, court told. On 3rd september 2012, the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012 has been introduced in the lok sabha. In 20, new legislation within the variety of manual scavengers act was passed that seeks to bolster this ban by prohibiting manual scavenging all together forms and rehabilitation of manual scavengers to be known through a compulsory survey. Yes, we know it persists, and we are taking up this matter as top priority. India movement to end manual scavengers low caste women. Petition eradicate manual scavenging practice from india. Jan, 20 previously, the ministry of social justice and empowerment had introduced the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012 in the monsoon session of the parliament under grave pressure by the supreme court to prioritize the elimination of the dehumanizing practice of manual scavenging. The minister, who also held the portfolio of the minister of drinking water and sanitation till october 2012, said it was possible to pass the. Oct 18, 2016 the 2012 bill on banning manual scavenging cannot achieve its objective without a roadmap for rehabilitation. We intend to introduce it in the monsoon session of parliament. A bill seeking to prohibit employment of individuals as manual scavengers by prescribing stringent punishment, including imprisonment up to five years, for those employing such labour was passed.
In september 2012, a new bill on the prohibition of employment as. That bill has been pending with the ministry for the past two years. The story of prabhu and guru dhodiya and the terrible plight of manual scavengers. Activists say the new billthe prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012lacks teeth and clarity. Rather than continue using the umbrella term manual scavenger, a comprehensive classification of the various kinds of. Sep 07, 20 lok sabha, the lower house of the parliament, on 6 september 20, passed the prohibition of employment as manual scavengers and their rehabilitation bill, 2012.