- Karnataka govt conceded to having made a gross under estimation of the number of manual scavengers in the state and has promised to acknowledge and rehabilitate them besides conducting a new survey.
- This came in the wake of a public outcry after the govt estimated their number at 302, and claimed that the practise has been eradicated in the State, while in reality the number stands at lakhs.
- The guidelines on conducting a survey of manual scavengers was greatly disregarded by the govt as it did not conduct community meetings or door-to-door surveys, and even rejected sworn affidavits filed by people stating that they were working as scavengers.
- 28 people have died in the past 2 and a half years alone while cleaning sanitary lines in unsafe conditions.
- The demand for a detailed package to eradicate manual scavenging and for rehabilitation of the workers is rising.
- Contractual labour in pourakarmikas should also be eradicated as this is giving rise to a mafia that reduces the workers to bonded laborers.
- Instead, equal pay and admissions for their childrens into Class six in Morarji Desai or Kittur Rani Chenamma Residential Schools without any entrance exam has been proposed.
- Read at: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/government-for-resurvey-of-manual-scavengers/article6068376.ece
Exams Perspective:
- Kittur Rani Chenamma Residential Schools
- Manual Scavenging Prevention Act
