Manual Scavenging
While a lot has been talked about and small steps are being taken in terms of building toilets, practically nothing is being done to reduce/stop manual scavenging. I recently happened to watch a short clip from the documentary "kakkoos", and it showed how demeaning and dangerous this work can be.
There are technologies (including robots) developed by Researchers in India. They may be in the nascent stage, but the governments (centre and state) have to give fillip to these technologies via funding, help them demonstrate and improve their products so that the practice can be reduced initially and then stopped.
it looks like pockets in Delhi and Kerala are testing this. But, that is not enough. It has to be done on a massive scale and everyone who employs such scavengers, either directly or indirectly (through contractors) should go for the technology solutions.
To start with, it could as simple as putting a fishing net like thing into the drains and lifting up whatever is possible, then draining out the water using pumps or something. i am not an expert in this, but just some thoughts off the top of my head.
Also, whoever is doing this manual scavenging, their families have to be taken care of by the governments, in terms of providing quality education of their children, food at reduced prices, quality medical tests and treatment (a weekly checkup) to name a few, until the manual process is stopped.
And whoever opposes the use of technology (politicians/contractors) citing job loss, should be strongly discouraged and jobs/contractors should not be given to them. For the laborers who do the manual scavenging can be taught how to use technology.
There are technologies (including robots) developed by Researchers in India. They may be in the nascent stage, but the governments (centre and state) have to give fillip to these technologies via funding, help them demonstrate and improve their products so that the practice can be reduced initially and then stopped.
it looks like pockets in Delhi and Kerala are testing this. But, that is not enough. It has to be done on a massive scale and everyone who employs such scavengers, either directly or indirectly (through contractors) should go for the technology solutions.
To start with, it could as simple as putting a fishing net like thing into the drains and lifting up whatever is possible, then draining out the water using pumps or something. i am not an expert in this, but just some thoughts off the top of my head.
Also, whoever is doing this manual scavenging, their families have to be taken care of by the governments, in terms of providing quality education of their children, food at reduced prices, quality medical tests and treatment (a weekly checkup) to name a few, until the manual process is stopped.
And whoever opposes the use of technology (politicians/contractors) citing job loss, should be strongly discouraged and jobs/contractors should not be given to them. For the laborers who do the manual scavenging can be taught how to use technology.
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Manual scavenging should be considered a national shame. Shall we expect the PLATINUM JUBILEE year of our independence, 2022, to be the year of freedom from manual scavenging?
Sep 01
Yes it is downright demeaning for our sanitation workers to stake their lives for cleaning our scum unprotected. Yes IITs have researched and have invented cleaning of clogged sewage by robots. The MODI government shuold immediately take it up as a start up project and implement. Otherwise such negligence would classify our nation as most backward. The cleaning personnel must also be equipped with proper masks and even oxygen , either pumped from out side or carried on personal
Aug 29
Manual scavenging is very bad for all concerned. It can be totally avoided by using appropriate equipment. In Kerala it is almost non existent, probably because of the awareness of the user public and the workers also.
Aug 28
It is painful to know that such practice is still prevent in some part of India. Why media is not highlighting this issue? Why public is accepting it? Why area local leaders are not taking up action against this practice? The village Sarpanch / Council should be identified and put to shame for such CRIME.
Aug 28
