Future cities: Ensuring world class amenities in urban India

Souvik SahaTarosi SenapatiKonika ChoudhurySucheta DeDebanjan Roy

Team Members :

Manual scavenging-a national shame

What is it?It refers to the removal of animal or human excreta using brooms,tin plates and baskets from dry latrine and carrying it to disposal grounds involving human hands.

Where it is practised rather malpractised?

•Indian railways•Indian army•Public toilets•Private homes•Roads

Who are engaged?

•Mostly Dalit class of the society•Children from the poor •sections•Rag pickers etc

•

Violation of laws:

of constitution, besides the Scheduled Castes and theScheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities act,1989)

•The Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines(Prohibition)Act 1993 provides punishment for employingmanual scavengers or constructing dry toilets

Manual scavenging is violative of the spirit of Article 14(equality before law),Article 17( right against exploitation)

Whom to accuse?

•Ministry of Defence• Ministry of health and family welfare• Various municipalities•Ministry of Railways•

•Civic authoritiesPrivate firms and households

Mr. Amir Khan, in his show named “Satyameva Jayate” highlighted this issue in one of the episodes, and on 12th July 2012 he met Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh,

who assured him to take necessary steps to eradicate thissocial peril. He directed Mr. Mukul Wasnik ,Union ministerfor Social Justice and Empowerment to look into this matterwith priority. Our National Advisory Council also gave itskind attention on how to resolve this issue which in turn will save the plight of 3 lakhs of manual scavengers who cleans others excreta by hands even after 65 years of freedom.

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES TO END THIS DEHUMANISING JOB

•PMO,NAC,MOSJ&E, is working together to Make an end to this degrading event.

•While addressing Parliament on 12th March 2011,President Pratibha Devi Singh Patel said a new Bill would be introduced for eliminating manual scavenging

The government, as the largest employer of manual scavengers, is guilty of violating this Act .

SO,WHO WILL PUNISH THE GOVERNMENT!!!

OUR RESPONSIBILITY:

•To create mass awareness among everyday Indiansusing various mass media like newspapers, television,radio.•We young generation can popularize anti scavenging campaigns using social networking.

•To provide our sweepers and housekeepers with moderncleaning equipments Like vacuum cleaners, floor scrubbers, pressure washers etc.

SOME OTHER MEASURES WHICH CAN BE TAKEN:

•Indian railways can introduce bio-toilets .• Workers should use gloves and gas masks while cleaning the manholes and septic tanks.•Effective water jets should be used to clean public toilets.

•Automatic suction pump fitted vehicles should be be employed by the civic bodies to keep streets clean

NOW WE CAN ONLY WAIT WHEN THIS

WILL BECOME

REFERENCE

Google ImagesWikipediaThe Times of IndiaITC logo

THANK YOU