The Suchitwa Mission is gearing up to undertake a survey to enumerate those who are employed in tasks related to septage management (or manual scavengers).
The survey has been planned as a precursor to the mechanisation of septage management and rehabilitation of labourers in this regard. The State nodal agency for sanitation that functions under the Local Self Government Department has received administrative sanction for undertaking the mechanisation project for which an amount of ₹10 crore has been earmarked.
Based on a recommendation by Kerala State Planning Board vice chairman V.K. Ramachandran, a consultative meeting of experts had been convened by K. Vasuki, Executive Director, Suchitwa Mission, a few weeks ago.
The meeting, which deliberated on the scope of the survey, observed that the study must cover manual scavengers, including those who were engaged in sewage cleaning, cleaning tanks, and removing human excreta on railway tracks or other open spaces. The broad definition of ‘manual scavenger’ as stated in the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, must be taken into account, the meeting noted.
Emphasising the need for urgent rehabilitation, the experts held the view that the survey and the planned mechanisation could be undertaken simultaneously. The ‘visible’ workers who had been engaged by various government agencies such as the Corporations or municipalities, Kerala Water Authority, Indian Railways, and other contracting agencies could be enlisted for the project. The Suchitwa Mission will obtain data relating to the ‘visible’ workers through the urban local bodies.
‘Snowball sampling’
On the other hand, they have proposed the ‘snowball’ sampling technique to identify workers who are ‘not visible’, by which those who have been identified can identify others and can be brought under the purview of the survey. The self-declaration of those engaged in the sector can also be obtained by way of advertisements.
The government agency will collaborate with the Safai Karmachari Association, a non-government organisation which has been carrying out a study across the country to identify all those who are involved in manual scavenging. The report will be used to collate data for use in the survey that will be conducted by the Suchitwa Mission. The meeting also resolved to constitute an expert committee in order to evolve the guidelines for implementing socio-economic safeguards for the workers.