NHRC Chairperson expresses serious concern over wide spread continuance of manual scavenging and hazardous cleaning; calls for implementation of innovative techniques to end this menace

New Delhi, 05th July, 2021

Mr. Justice A. K. Mishra, Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission, NHRC India, expressing serious concern over the continuance of manual scavenging today said that the widespread persistence of this practice, despite laws and guidelines for its elimination, not only goes against the values of our Constitution but also violates numerous national and international rights. Manual scavenging and hazardous cleaning still remain a stinking truth of our nation.

He was chairing an online meeting with different stakeholders on ‘Manual Scavenging & Hazardous Cleaning’ organized by the Commission today.

He said that it is high time we make fundamental shift in our approach and adopt more scientific and innovative technique to end the inhumane, discriminatory and hazardous practice of Manual Scavenging.

Justice Mishra said that the toilets constructed as part of Swachch Bharat Mission were expected to help in the eradication of the manual scavenging. But these also suffer from several shortcomings. According to the National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey 2019-20, only 27.3 percent of the toilets surveyed have a double leach pit; 1.1 percent goes into a sewer while all others empty into some form of a septic tank or single pits which requires manual cleaning.

Mr. Justice P.C Pant, Member, NHRC, said that the toxicity of the society in the form of denials of basic human rights of manual scavengers needs to be nullified. The meeting was attended by Mr. Bimadhar Pradhan, Secretary General, Mr. R.K Khandelwal, Additional Secretary, NHRC and representatives from Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Municipal Corporations of Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Civil Society Organization members & NGOs.

Apart from the other points, the key pointers were

• Replicate Best Practices across selected Municipal Corporations (Hyderabad, Chennai etc.)

• Evaluating the impact of Mechanisation & Technology on Manual Scavenging

• Various centrally sponsored schemes & programs run by Ministries to be implemented to fill existing gaps.

The NHRC has on many occasions expressed grave concern on the persistence of the practice of manual scavenging in the past through its various letters, National Seminars and Regional Workshops urging concerned stakeholders to take adequate steps towards eradicating these hazardous practices.

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