News: WHO has released a report titled “Health, Safety and Dignity of Sanitation Workers — An Initial Assessment”
Facts:
About The Report
- The report has been jointly authored by the International Labour Organization, WaterAid, World Bank, and WHO.
- It features the plight and dehumanising working conditions of sanitation workers across nine lower and middle-income group countries. The countries are India, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Haiti, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, and Uganda.
Key Takeaways from the Report:
- Sanitation workers across the developing world often suffer because of weak legal protection and lack of enforcement of existing rules.
- Despite laws and regulations being in place in India, the practice of manual scavenging has not been curtailed but has been forced underground.
- In sanitation work, those considered to be of a lower caste suffer discrimination in healthcare, education, employment, access to land, employment and wages.
Additional Information:
About manual scavenging:
- Manual scavenging is the practice of manually cleaning, carrying, disposing of, or handling human excreta.
- The International Labour Organization (ILO) distinguishes three forms of manual scavenging: a) Removal of human excrement from public streets and dry latrines, b) Cleaning septic tanks, and c) Cleaning gutters and sewers.
Indian Government efforts to end Manual Scavenging:
- The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993:
- The main objectives of the law were to prohibit employment of manual scavengers, construction or continuance of dry latrine and for the regulation of maintenance of water-seal latrines.
- Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act 2013
- The law intends to eliminate insanitary latrines and prohibit employment as manual scavengers. It also prohibits hazardous manual cleaning of sewer and septic tanks.
- Act made the states responsible for identifying and rehabilitating manual scavengers by providing them training, giving assistance, loans and even houses.
- It fixed responsibility on each local authority, cantonment board and railway authority to survey unsanitary (dry) latrines within its jurisdiction and to construct sanitary community latrines.
- Offences under the act are cognizable and non-bailable
- Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS)
- The scheme aims to rehabilitate manual scavengers and their dependents in alternative occupations, in a time bound manner.
- Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: It has fourfold aim:
- To eliminate open defecation
- To eradicate manual scavenging
- To bring in modern and scientific municipal solid waste management
- Behavioural change regarding healthy sanitation practices
