HYDERABAD: Peoplewho used to earn livelihood through manual scavenging turned into entrepreneurs. Telangana government has launched 70 mini sewer jetting machines as a step towards eliminating manual scavenging. This is pitched as the first such initiative in the country.
Though sewer jetting machines are already used by Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), because of their size (as big as a lorry) they cannot find their way into narrow by-lanes of Hyderabad.
Hydrodynamic cleaning procedure used
The mini machines (also called mini air tech machines) use hydrodynamic cleaning procedure to clean manholes. Thus, people do not have to enter manholes to clean them.
Municipal Administration and Urban Development minister KT Rama Rao launched the mini sewer jetting machines on Monday. The initiative is a joint effort of HWSSB and Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI).
Representatives of DICCI said that around 28 owners of the mini air tech machines used to work as manual scavengers in the state. Hereafter, they own the machines and they don’t have to enter manholes.
Each machine costs Rs 26 lakhs. SBI gave term loan of Rs 20 lakh per machine while the entrepreneur invested about Rs 6 lakh each.
Telangana state program for Rapid Incubation of Dalit Entrepreneurs (T-Pride) scheme was used for this project. The investment subsidy in relation to this project is Rs 11,70,000 for female and Rs 9,10,000 for male entrepreneurs. Besides this, the entrepreneur is also entitled to get interest subsidy of 9 per cent.
Demands to soar by monsoon
However, manual scavenging in the city is not completely eliminated. According to HMWSSB, the city is divided into 70 sections and around 600 people are employed in sewage section. One machine each is allotted to the 70 sections. Officials from the Water board said this will help in reducing work load on their employees and they have plans to hire more such machines. With monsoon scheduled to set in, there would be demand for services to clear manholes.
Recalling tragic incident in Madhapur where three workers died of asphyxiation in sewerage, Rama Rao said officials were clearly instructed that in any situation, manual scavenging should not be practised in Hyderabad.