Manual scavenging now under Atrocities Act

CHITRADURGA: Cases of Manual Scavenging will be treated under Prevention of Atrocities Act, as it is a heinous crime to engage human beings to clean human excreta, said member of National Commission for Safai Karamcharis K B Krishnamurthy on Monday.In an exclusive chat with Express, he urged the government to bring stringent laws to curb this menace and police, revenue and local administrations should join hands to curb this inhuman act.When his attention was drawn on to the recent accidents at KGF, he took Kolar district administration to task and said, “District administration is totally responsible for this act.” “The Safai Karamcharis were provided alternate jobs, however, they were removed from the service, resulting in people getting back to manual scavenging acts resulting in ghastly accidents. The national commission has already issued notices to state and district administrations in this regard,” he said.Even Union Home Ministry has issued an advisory in this regard to stop manual scavenging and impose cases under Atrocities Act.“Recently a meeting was held with principal secretaries of urban development and Rural Development and Panchayath Raj Ministries to purchase jetting and sucking machines and press them to service at a war footing basis from city to village levels,” said Krishnamurthy. He also said, the machinery can be purchased using MP and MLA local area development funds. Adding to this, by restrain high mortality rates among Safai Karamcharis who hitherto have an average life span of 50 years. Lauding the efforts of Dr B R Ambedkar development corporation and state government in initiating various measures for the betterment of Safai Karamcharis, he said, persons involved in manual scavenging should form groups and purchase machines and the corporation and government should support the cause.When asked whether manual scavenging is still prevalent in Karnataka, Krishnamurthy replied positively and elaborated that, cleaning of manholes will also amount to manual scavenging and local self-governments should stop this in the future. Recalling previous survey of Safai Karmachari’s as a faulty one, he urged the Government of India to work for the betterment of the oppressed class which has not seen light for centuries.“During the previous survey, majority of scavengers were left out. There is an urgent need to re-conciliate the existing one,” he added.