Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Passing a bill is not enough, implement it!' that was published in Newsband

Passing a bill is not enough, implement it!

Parliament has at last passed the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Bill. This time the focus is equally on rehabilitation of manual scavengers as on prohibition of the practice and punishment of the employers.

Manual scavenging will continue so long as there are men and women poor and helpless enough to take it up. Rehabilitation of those engaged in this dehumanising labour is necessary first and foremost,

At many places manual scavengers have to work in extremely unhygienic conditions that put their health at serious risk. Local and railway authorities have been employers of manual scavengers. In fact, the main violators of the law included government authorities.

The effort of the Government in passing the bill, in spite of considerable delay, is laudable. But merely passing the bill would not amount to any substantial results at the grass root level. Many factors, ranging from allocation of funds to enthusiasm of the administrators in implementing the intended benefits of the law play a vital role in the success of the cause of manual scavengers.

It is a serious crime wherein the proprietor indulges children and the needy into scavenging business. It has become a common trend for the poor and homeless since they don't find any work opportunities and ultimately are drawn into the waterloo of abuse and disregard.

The issue has to be met with immediate effect and this should include something pragmatic rather than passing amendments on paper at the parliament just to solicit votes for the upcoming election.

In real terms this law will have some meaning if only alternative technology is provided. Bringing laws just for the sake of satisfying Supreme Court is not right.  

Rehabilitation is the area that has not been sorted out. Only when a law is enacted and enforced there will be a solution. Even while passing Food Security Bill Sonia Gandhi did the same thing, putting cart before the horse - commitment before capability to deliver.

The question is why technological advancement can't replace this unhygienic practice? Today India is considered as an emerging power even in Space, then why government is not being able to stop such a thing like manual scavenging?

Those using protective gear and devices do not come under the definition of a “manual scavenger”. The current legislation sees protective gear and safety precautions for the workers as an alternative to mechanisation, because our government doesn't have infrastructural backing. In fact, employing people for Scavenging by providing Protective Gear is not wrong. But scavenging with naked hand is disgusting.

The government should show seriousness in addressing the issue in all its dimensions to completely eradicate the abominable practice.