Cleaning And Disposal Of Human Excreta: A Venom To Manual Scavengers Of India

Nikita Mistry, SVKM’S-NMIMS, Kirit P. Mehta School of Law, Maharashtra, Mumbai

ABSTRACT

Under the constitution of India, adopted 26th of November 1949 directed under the supervision of Dr. B.R Ambedkar enlisted its citizens with Part- III, Fundamental Rights though not being absolute consisting from Art.12 to 35. Since then, seventy-two years have been passed but it failed to achieve the purposes of Art.14 (right to equality), Art.15 (prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.), Art.21 (personal life and personal liberty) meaning right to live with human dignity and Art.17(abolition of untouchability)- in terms of matters pertaining to Manual scavenging and concerned individuals associated thereof. The age-old practice of scavenging is performed in various parts of country willingly, forcefully by breadwinner; is an inhumane, unhealthy and unhygienic hereditary occupation of labour class Dalits(untouchables). Sources from NCSK reveals 631 persons lost their lives or suffers temporary/ physical disability in the past years from disposal of human excreta from insanitary latrines, sceptic tanks without little to no personal protective equipment. Both the Act of 1993 and the M.S Act of 2013 by social Justice ministry failed to bridge the gaps of socio-economic status, safe and hygienic occupation of scavenging for eradicating it. Therefore, need and emphasis of this research paper is placed on resolving the unhygienic working conditions and lifestyle issue of the M.S community and not allowing their suffering to go unchallenged because it’s the highest level of emergency that’s need to be taken care of.

Keywords: manual scavenging, manual scavengers, health issues, human excreta, insanitary latrines.