Lakshman Raghunath, BA.LLB (Hons.), ICFAI Law School, Hyderabad
ABSTRACT
Throughout history, individuals belonging to the SC/ST Community have endured oppression, violence, and numerous unimaginable cruelties. Sadly, even in the present era where laws have been enacted and implemented to uplift and protect these marginalised communities, there is one specific community that has suffered the most severe mistreatment due to a job that was imposed upon them: manual scavenging.
Manual scavenging primarily refers to the manual cleaning, carrying, disposal, and handling of human excreta in unsanitary latrines, open drains, sewers, septic tanks, or pits, predominantly found in India.
The individuals engaged in manual scavenging typically utilise hand tools such as buckets, brooms, and shovels. They are compelled to transfer excreta using brooms and tin plates into baskets, which they then carry to disposal sites, often located several kilometres away. These sanitation workers, commonly known as "manual scavengers," rarely have access to personal protective equipment. The nature of their work is dehumanising and degrading.
The occupation of sanitation work is deeply intertwined with the caste system in India. Cleaning tasks of any kind are considered menial and are assigned to individuals from the lowest rungs of the social hierarchy. In this caste-based society, it is predominantly the Dalits who work as sanitation workers, engaging in manual scavenging, drain cleaning, garbage collection, and street sweeping.
This paper aims to delve into a comprehensive discussion regarding the blatant violation of the Fundamental Rights of manual scavengers.
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