Dirty Picture ! 1 1

1 2

Assistant Professor of Law Manual Scavenging in India : Issues and Challenges KALPESHKUMAR L GUPTA Assistant Professor of Law State Level Seminar on Law & Society in 21st Century May 31, 2015

Outline of the presentation Introduction Research Methodology Law on Manual Scavenging in India Recent Scenario of Manual Scavenging in India Concluding Remarks Q & A (C) K L GUPTA 1 4

Outline of the presentation Introduction Research Methodology Law on Manual Scavenging in India Recent Scenario of Manual Scavenging in India Concluding Remarks Q & A (C) K L GUPTA 1 5

Manual scavenging is the worst surviving symbol of untouchability. - National Advisory Council resolution, October 23, 2010 (C) K L GUPTA 1 6

Introduction :- Manual Scavenging & Constitution of India Article 14 - Right to Equality Article 17 – Untouchability Article 21 - Right to Life & Liberty Article 46 - Promotion of educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections Article 47 - Duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health (C) K L GUPTA Cont… 1 7

Introduction :- Statistics on Manual Scavenging Cont… Introduction :- Statistics on Manual Scavenging Around 1.3 million manual scavengers in India 95% are women. Around 10 billion dry latrines being cleaned manually. (C) K L GUPTA Cont… 1 8

Introduction :- Previous Laws on Manual Scavengers Cont… Introduction :- Previous Laws on Manual Scavengers Employment of Manual Scavengers and Constructions of Dry latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993 National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993 Finally new law.. The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (C) K L GUPTA 1 9

Outline of the presentation Introduction Research Methodology Law on Manual Scavenging in India Recent Scenario of Manual Scavenging in India Concluding Remarks Q & A (C) K L GUPTA 1 10

Research Methodology Present research work is based upon secondary data in form of articles, news clippings, judicial decisions, documentaries on the life of manual scavengers in India. (C) K L GUPTA 1 11

Outline of the presentation Introduction Research Methodology Law on Manual Scavenging in India Recent Scenario of Manual Scavenging in India Concluding Remarks Q & A (C) K L GUPTA 1 12

Manual Scavengers defined …means a person engaged or employed, at the commencement of this Act or at any time thereafter, by an individual or a local authority or an agency or a contractor, ……for manually cleaning, carrying, disposing of, or otherwise handling in any manner, human excreta in an insanitary latrine or in an open drain or pit into which the human excreta from the insanitary latrines is disposed of, or on a railway track or in such other spaces or premises, as the Central Government or a State Government may notify, before the excreta fully decomposes in such manner as may be prescribed, and the expression “manual scavenging” shall be construed accordingly. (C) K L GUPTA 1 13

Prohibition on Manual Scavengers No person, local authority or any agency shall construct an insanitary latrines or employ or engage manual scavengers (Section 5). For contravention upto 1 year Imprisonment or with fine upto 50,000 or both (Section 8). Not engage a person for hazardous cleaning of a sewer or a septic tank. For contravention upto 2 year Imprisonment or with fine upto 2 Lakh or both (Section 9). Complaint within 3 months of the alleged commission of the offence (Section 10) (C) K L GUPTA 1 14

Manual Scavengers & their Rehabilitation Every municipality, Panchayat shall prepare list of manual scavengers. They will be given ID card having details of family members, dependents. Children will be entitled for scholarship. Allotment of residential plot and financial assistance for house construction or ready made house. He or his one of family member will be given skill training and minimum Rs. 3000 will be given as stipend. He or at least one adult member of his family shall be given subsidy and concessional loan for taking up an alternative occupation. (C) K L GUPTA 1 15

Authorities for rehabilitation & trial of cases The District Magistrate of the district shall be responsible for rehabilitation of each manual scavengers. All offences will be tried by Executive Magistrate u/s 21 of the Act. Vigilance Committee for each district headed by District Magistrate to advise District Magistrate/Sub-DM on the actions which need to be taken to oversee the economic and social rehabilitation of manual scavengers, to monitor registration of offences under the act and their investigation and prosecution (Section 25). (C) K L GUPTA 1 16

Monitoring Committee Every state govt. shall constitute State Monitoring Committee which will monitor and advise the state govt. and local authorities for effective implementation of act (Section 26, 27) Central Govt. will also Central Monitoring Committee which will advise central & state govt. (Section 30). National Commission for Safai Karamcharis will monitor the implementation of this act and advise central & state govt. for effective implementation of the act and to take suo-moto notice of matter relating to non-implementation of the act (Section 31). (C) K L GUPTA 1 17

Implementing Authorities (C) K L GUPTA 1 18

Outline of the presentation Introduction Research Methodology Law on Manual Scavenging in India Recent Scenario of Manual Scavenging in India Concluding Remarks Q & A (C) K L GUPTA 1 19

Recent Scenario of Manual Scavenging Safai Karamchari Andolan v/s. Union of India (Writ petition filed in 2003 decided on March 27, 2014) for implementation of laws on manual scavenging. National Commission of Safai Karamchari reported that act not being implemented. CAG reported that National Scheme for Liberalization and Rehabilitation of Scavengers and their dependents (Started in 1992) has failed to achieve its objectives involving investment more than Rs. 600 crore even after ten years of implementation. Money was unspent & underutilized. (C) K L GUPTA 1 20

Recent Scenario of Manual Scavenging The High Court of Gujarat disposed of a suo-motu public interest litigation (PIL) with regard to manual scavenging after directing the state government to strictly implement the law and take "all necessary steps" to abolish the practice. The bench also directed the government to strictly implement the law to abolish the practice (The New Indian Express). As per Union Minister of Social Justice “only few states furnishing information on manual scavenging” (Zee News). Madras HC directed state govt. to implement the act in response of PIL. District level vigilance committee and state level monitoring committee to be constituted (The Hindu). (C) K L GUPTA 1 21

Outline of the presentation Introduction Research Methodology Law on Manual Scavenging in India Recent Scenario of Manual Scavenging in India Concluding Remarks Q & A (C) K L GUPTA 1 22

Conclusion Manual Scavenging still prevalent in India. Central & State Govt. have failed to implement the law on manual scavenging. SC & Various HC directing states to implement the law. (C) K L GUPTA 1 23

Recommendation Need high-tech equipments. Funds for rehabilitation of manual scavengers. Sanitation facilities for citizens. Robust strategy for implementing the law of manual scavengers. (C) K L GUPTA 1 24

Limitations of the study & Future Scope of study Present study is based on secondary data which is the main limitation of the present research. Present study can be carried forward by doing field survey and collecting primary data which will help in arriving proper findings (C) K L GUPTA 1 25

Outline of the presentation Introduction Research Methodology Law on Manual Scavenging in India Recent Scenario of Manual Scavenging in India Concluding Remarks Q & A (C) K L GUPTA 1 26

(C) K L GUPTA 1 27

References :- Richard Abraham (2015), “HC directs strict implementation of law on manual scavenging”, New Indian Express, February 10, 2015.   Social Inclusion of Manual Scavengers, Report of National Round Table Discussion, New Delhi, December 21, 2012. Cleaning Human Waste, Manual Scavenging, Caste and Discrimination in India report prepared by Human Rights Watch, 2014. Constitution of India The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Constructions of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993 The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993 The Hindu Zee News Sewer men of Mumbai, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWBCsn6pQWc Manual Scavenging, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWuPn4FkIZ4 (C) K L GUPTA 1 28

1 29

Thank you ! Kalpeshkumar L Gupta advocatekgupta@gmail.com 1 30