Following a targeted campaign by the National Campaign for Dignity and Eradication of Manual Scavenging and other activists, Indian Parliamentarians are now taking the issue of manual scavenging up in Parliament.
Photo by SKA
From March 2011 to May 2012 a total of 11 questions were raised by the Members of Parliament (6 in Rajya Sbha and 5 in Lok Sabha) on the issue of eradicating manual scavenging and rehabilitating those who had been engaged in this work. Manual scavenging is the abhorrent practice of Dalits being employed to remove human waste from dry latrines manually which persists despite having been officially abolished by law in India since 1993.
MPs raised 10 questions related to Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and one question related Ministry of Labour and Employments. Issue wise a total five questions about the eradication and status of manual scavenging, 3 questions about the rehabilitation, wages and scheme for scavengers, one question about the new legislation and two questions about the committee and conference on manual scavenging raised by MPs.
These questions come after delegations of women who were previously manual scavengers and activists, associated with the National Campaign for Dignity and Eradication of Manual Scavenging from various states of India, met 64 parliamentarians and handed over the Letter of “Demands and Draft Bill” for new legislation for eradication of inhuman practice of manual scavenging and comprehensive rehabilitation of liberated manual scavengers last year.
After these meetings with the Member of Parliament, the National Campaign for Dignity and Eradication of Manual Scavenging also sent the recommendation letters and Draft Bill to total 759 Member of Parliament of Lok Sbha and Rajya Sbha. This process of parliamentary advocacy has been very impactful.
(This news is based on a report from Rashtriya Garima Abhiyan – National Campaign for Dignity and Eradication of Manual Scavenging)
More information
Read the full report on the questions asked on manual scavenging by Parliamentarians