Bengaluru: Despite manual scavenging being banned for the last 24 years, the dehumanising act appears to be still prevalent, even in Bengaluru.
In fact, this year, manual scavenging has been reported from areas like Yeshwanthpur, Doddaballapura and Byapanahalli. In the case of Byappanahalli, first arrests were made.
The Prohibition of Employment of Manual Scavengers and Rehabilitation Act, 2013 prohibits any individual from hiring the services of manual scavengers. But many online home service providers advertise the services of manual scavengers.
A quick surf through these websites will put you in contact with ‘professionals’ who offer to clean drains and septic tanks with their bare hands.
“I requested the services of a private firm to clean my drain. I was shocked to see that these so-called professionals intended to climb right into the chamber and scoop out the faecal matter without using any protective gear,” said Reagan Henry, a resident of HAL.
Unfortunately, cases like these are far too many in Bengaluru and while Reagan was sensible enough to refuse the service, a lot of residents are ignorant that hiring such services is illegal. “It is disgusting that these websites are advertising manual scavenging,” said Mr Clifton D’Rozario, an advocate working for the welfare of manual scavengers and pourakarmikas.
“Manual scavengers are considered as ‘untouchables’ by some castes. Such advertisements on websites not only violate the Prohibition of Employment of Manual Scavengers Act, 2013 but also the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989”, he said.
More often than not, manual scavengers are more easily accessible compared to authorised professionals and are comparatively cheap. One such laborer said that manual scavenging is his best option. “What choice do I have? My only other option is working at construction sites, but the pay is so low that I can’t even afford two square meals. But if I clean a septic tank, the work only lasts a couple of hours and it pays me well”, he said.
Bengaluru has seen 18 deaths of manual scavengers since 2013. With no enforcement of the law and internet home-services providers advertising the services of these people, it is likely that that number will only increase.
