Critical Analysis On Manual Scavenging In India
- IJLLR Journal
- Mar 28, 2025
- 1 min read
Akshaya A, School of Excellence in Law, Tamilnadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University, Chennai
ABSTRACT
There are serious health and environmental hazards associated with manual scavenging, which is the process of cleaning and clearing waste excrement from drains and sewage systems by hand. Workers in the unorganized sector continue to perform this dangerous labour in spite of the existence of regulatory structures intended to eradicate such activities. In order to determine whether manual scavenging has become less common over time, this research will look at its current state. It will go into the negative consequences of this work as well as the social and economic forces that force people to take on these responsibilities. Even though the Indian Constitution and other laws have been put in place to stop manual scavenging and aid in the rehabilitation of people who engage in it, underprivileged populations frequently find themselves caught in a vicious cycle of prejudice and poverty. Many are used by private organizations and local government agencies to unclog drains and sewers that are choked with trash and plastic waste. This practice has significant human rights ramifications, posing significant queries on the livelihoods and dignity of these workers. To address their predicament and guarantee that their rights and welfare are given top priority in both policy and practice, a comprehensive strategy is required.
Keywords: Manual scavenging, Manual scavengers, Hazardous work, Drains, dry latrines, schemes, policies, illegal.
