75 Years After Independence, The Horror Of Manual Scavenging Continues In India

As we celebrate 'Azadi ka amrit mahotsav', 75 years of India’s independence, women equipped with just a piece of cardboard or metal, a broom and a basket, gather human excreta from dry latrines across India’s towns and villages. They lug these baskets on their heads over a distance to dispose of the waste. They do this hour after hour.

Men, equipped with nothing but a rope and maybe a bucket are sent into septic tanks, open drains and manholes, choked sewers, they use their bare hands to scoop out the filth. Some die of asphyxiation, some others, of the diseases contracted by constant contact with human excreta.

They are India’s manual scavengers. Almost all of those forced into scavenging, belong to the Dalit community, particularly the scavenging castes. Manual scavenging is caste based violence. It is a plainsight perpetuation of untouchability.

Safai Karmachari Andolan led by Magsaysay award winner, human rights activist, Bezwada Wilson has almost single handedly fought this battle against manual scavenging. Mr Wilson speaks to us on the programme.


Writer and host: Smitha Nair

Producer: Karnika Kohli

Graphics designer: Rubin D'Souza


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