HYDERABAD: With the sole objective to end manual scavenging, different stakeholders, government departments, members of civil society along with Ramon Magsaysay award winner Bezwada Wilson of the Safaai Karamchari Andolan met at a common platform on Wednesday and resolved not to let any human being to enter a manhole to clear sewerage lines ever again.
A few bereaved women shared that the Rs 10 lakh promised ex gratia was not fully paid and their lives have become difficult to manage with no source of income. Adding to this, without any delay, Wilson took to the stage and informed that while there is a need to discuss the plight of these women, the call of the hour is to formulate an action plan with solutions to stop people from entering manholes.
“We will try to ensure that those who are hiring people to enter manholes and septic tanks are arrested. We want to create something stringent so that no one dies,” said Wilson, awaiting more suggestions.
Bhasha Singh, journalist and author who travelled 30,000 km across the country for her book, ‘Unseen:
The Truth about India’s Manual Scavengers’ pointed out that introducing technology to clean is the only solution to this age-old casteist problem.
While several others too pointed out the need for technological advancement in this sector, Jasveen Jairat, social activist said, “The practice needs to end. Compensation is not any kind of justification for the death of 33 people in the twin cities in 2016.”
Agreeing with the activists and their recommendations, Dana Kishore, managing director, HMWSSB informed: “Of the Rs 25 lakh that has been promised, the contractors were asked to pay Rs 5 lakh and Rs 4.5 lakh was provided by the government. We are working on making the jobs permanent and also double bedroom home,” he said.
He also recommended a mass campaign to educate people in the city to bring a change in the urban living system.