The Other Side of the Wall

“I left this work a year ago, but the stench hasn’t left me.” – Testimony of Kamlesh who started this work at an early age.

The day everyone in India gets a toilet to use, I shall know that our country has reached the pinnacle of progress. (Jawaharlal Nehru).

A lot of people are not familiar with the word Manual Scavengers let alone their jobs, especially those living in an urban space in the comforts of their home. Despite a clear evidence of Indian Railways, the largest employer of Manual Scavengers (Indiaspend, 2015), which make use of dry latrines where human excrement is dumped on the railway tracks which is later cleaned manually. Is it the ignorance and active denial which has led people to believe that no such thing as Manual scavenging exists? Is the topic too difficult to talk about? Or have we failed as a society in acknowledging the real issues? Bhasha Singh has rightfully answered these questions in her book Unseen: The truth about India’s Manual Scavengers.

Bhasha Singh’s book Unseen: The truth about India’s Manual Scavengers has been explosively penned down in an attempt to unveil the various layers of an inhumane practice which, in the opinion of the author is a result of deep rooted caste system. She considers this practice a rotting hell as literally on has to go down in stinking sewers/septic tanks that exhumes deadly gases, sufficient enough to suffocate one to his/her death. It is a well-researched book which address various issues related to the problem of manual scavenging. Originally her book was first published in Hindi, titled as “Adrishya Bharat” in 2012. Afterwards it was then translated in English by Reenu Talwar with some new chapters updated which further throws lights on unaddressed areas. I would call this book a work of true journalism, webbed in simple words yet with a powerful message to the society at large and calling out the lousy work done by the government in eradicating manual scavenging.

It includes living testimonies of people indulged in this practice. The author in her book has attempted to make the readers aware of a community that has been deliberately made invisible. The book unfolds the various facets of the horrendous and plightful condition of people hailing mainly from lower caste forced into this practice. The practice of manual scavenging is dominated mainly by people coming from lower strata of society which confined them to livelihood considered as deplorable and too menial by the people of upper caste. These people have been pushed to the margins of society forced to live on the outskirts of cities. The so called educated civil society has discriminated them and has drawn a wall between them. And it is these people who live on the other side. They are viewed as a living disgrace for the society. But the truth is Disgrace is that we as a society has failed to acknowledge the problem and not these people who have been unwillingly forced into one. The book points out the gross violation of human rights, Right to live with Dignity, Right to Equality and protection from Untouchability. The word Dignity finds its place in the preamble of the Indian Constitution. Right to Equality is a fundamental right, a right so inherent from the birth of a human being.

The entire book revolves around the author’s central thrust at unravelling the exploitative forces which, according to her, have been rooted deep in the caste system, ineffective legislative, executive and judicial machinery, ignorant policy making and unconcerned politicians. The book is divided into two parts consisting of 281 pages inclusive of acknowledgments and foreword by Bezwada Wilson. It starts with author’s journey from the valley of Kashmir to the state of Karnataka scaling 11 states in totality and documenting the testimonies and experiences of manual scavengers. To get a better insight of their lives and live a first-hand experience, the author would visit their houses sharing conversations over a cup of tea or the speciality of that particular place. Discussing how they got into this practice and what hurdles did they face in their path to empowerment. Carefully, she captured the nuances of the lives of the Invisibles. One can feel the rage, anguish, hopelessness and utter disappointment of these people well reflected in her writing. After scaling 11 States, talking to the manual scavengers, she came to know about other facets of their lives. Often known by different names as ‘Dabbu-wali’, ‘Balti-wali’, ‘Tina-wali’, ‘Tokri-wali, one thing remained constant throughout these States; they are not seen as humans. They have been stripped off of their basic human rights. Talking to them reminded her of the cruel aspect of age-long caste system. One is sucked in the bog that the practice of manual scavenging is. It is equally impossible to get out of this whole system once you get in. As Meena in her testimony said, once you start doing this job, people will refuse you to give other works as it is viewed as a disgusting and deplorable task. So other doors shut in their face and they have no resort to other opportunities. The stench truly never leaves you.

A distinctive element of the book are the stories of female manual scavengers rising as local Dalit leaders, raising their voices against the atrocities. Bhasha in her book said, “Women are Dalit among Dalits”. One can see this practice being dominated primarily by women. To sustain their families, they would carry the human excrement on their head bare hands. Rainy days in such situation are a living nightmare. A lot of people from this community die due to alcoholism because it is not possible to do such dehumanising work in senses cause the stench is unbearable. And yes women have to work even during her pregnancy. A gut wrenching story shared in her book by a woman who lost her baby while being at this job. And they cannot stop cause they do not have any other opportunities to turn to.

The second part of the book deals mainly with her criticism of the how inefficient the administration has proved in dealing a burning issue which requires immediate attention. The government, according to her has turned a blind eye to it. The Apex court of the Country which is regarded as Guardian and protector of Rights has also disappointed these people. It has effectively failed to address the grievances. She expressed the exasperation of manual scavengers and NGOs like Safai Karmachari Andolan (SKA),” who even after making rounds of the courts, got nothing. They were returned empty handed and the dreams and hopes for better days were shattered time after time. She also discussed at lengths the inefficiency of the new Act ‘The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 1993.’ Bhasha’s book provide us a ground reality and various loopholes of the impugned Act. One of the main problem is that it is Vaguely laid out. For instance, the provisions of this Act restricts the meaning of manual scavenging to dry latrines (which does not have modern day flush system). So basically it means that the law won’t be of much help if sewers are being cleaned manually. The Act’s inherently flawed provisions practically give way to propelling rather than eradicating this practice. Secondly, there are no watertight provisions for the purpose of rehabilitation which left the matters at the whim of the State governments. Where on one side the caste stigma has led this community deprived of other alternative professions, on the other side, the government provisions for rehabilitation which only grants loan seems more like a burden and hollow aid than support. Chapter four of the Act, Article 14 deals with the provisions of punishment which fails to specify as to who needs to be punished for the violation of the provisions.

Reading the book “UNSEEN” was deeply distressing and disturbing to me. It came as a shock to see this inhuman practice of manual scavenging thriving in spite of a law banning it. According to the Supreme Court judgement (Safai Karamchari Andolan & Ors v. Union of India & Ors., 2014) dated 24 March 2014, no human being should be allowed to enter into sewers or septic tanks for cleaning. The judgement says—

If the practice of manual scavenging has to be brought to a close and also to prevent future generations from the inhuman practice of manual scavenging, rehabilitation of manual scavengers will need to include: -

Sewer deaths – entering sewer lines without safety gears should be made a crime even in emergency situations. For each such death, compensation of INR 10 lakhs should be given to the family of the deceased.

However, no steps were taken to implement the judgment yet.

The book justifies its title in every sense. It talks about the community that the so called educated, civil society refuse to see. They are pretended to be invisible. The book will prove to be useful for academician in understanding the intricacies of deep rooted caste hierarchy system, structural violence and institutional channels of subjugation of generations of a community in such degrading, dehumanising profession. For policy makers willing to bring change, this book gives an insight on the aspects that actually need to be worked on and will help in bringing out effective policies to help eradicating this practice from its very roots as well as enable the rehabilitation of these people. As for the general public, the book is a crucial eye-opener presenting a reality check on the continued existence of untouchability, and exploitation and violation of human rights. I would strongly recommend reading this book to everyone, for the content maybe outdated as we have witnessed changes over the years since its publication but it will play a pivotal role in spreading awareness among readers about the stories of suppression and heinous crime against human rights and also to develop insights. It would definitely send a chill down your spine.

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