Gujarat High Court unhappy with state govt’s approach on manual scavengers

Source: dnaindia.com

The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday expressed its unhappiness on the state government for its failure to take steps to abolish the inhumane practice of manual scavenging.

The government was supposed to file a detailed reply on Wednesday clarifying whether manual scavenging is still prevalent in the state, or not, and what actions have been taken by it to curb the inhumane practice. Instead, the state tried to submit documents pertaining to equipment available with various civic bodies, which also depicted a mere 30 oxygen masks with a cylinder for labourers who risk their lives while cleaning drainage and sewerage channels.

During the hearing, Justice Brahmbhatt remarked: “We are not happy with the details submitted by the state government and unfortunately, the details do not give a very happy picture.” The court also remarked that there should be a helpline number for reporting cases related to manual scavenging and the government should create awareness through campaigns to ensure people stop the inhumane practice.

Advocate Hirak Ganguly, who is representing the petitioner-organisation Manag Garima, informed the court that although there are provisions in the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, the police usually treat these cases as accidental deaths and the provisions of the Act are never invoked in the FIR.

Following this, the state’s counsel tried to seek 10 days to file a reply. The court straightaway rejected the request and directed the government to file its reply in the matter by July 1. The court has directed the government to clarify in the affidavit on the steps taken by it to comply with the provisions of the Act, and whether any FIR in the state has been registered under the provisions enshrined under the Act. The court has also directed the government to clarify whether it will be able to make budgetary provisions for creating awareness in a bid to end manual scavenging.

Ganguly had earlier pointed out to the court about the recent death of seven persons on June 15 inside a septic tank of a hotel in Dabhoi taluka of Vadodara due to asphyxiation, while cleaning it.

He had submitted that manual scavenging has been banned in India and the Supreme Court has issued several guidelines for the state governments for the rehabilitation of manual scavengers and to put an end to the inhumane practice. He had argued that the state government, however, has not taken any steps to follow the apex court guidelines and the system of manual scavenging still prevails in Gujarat.