After the State Government turned to a technological solution to end the practice of manual scavenging, city-based activists say it is time to provide alternate employment to this group of labourers.
Municipal Administration Minister K.T. Rama Rao flagged off 70 mini-sewer jetting machines at People’s Plaza on Monday to replace the age-old basket and bucket way of cleaning sewers.
“People descending into manholes even in this technologically advanced times is cruel and inhuman,” he said during the event.
The activists, who closely working with the downtrodden section, said that more needs to be done.
Use machines
“The Government should ensure manual scavengers get job opportunities once the machines are extensively used,” said Jasveen Jairath of Basthi Vikas Manch.
“The machines should not be limited to just showcasing. If the machines are deployed, it should not lead to a situation where the usage of machines are confined to the same community. They should be removed entirely from the work they have been doing to make a difference to the community.”
Another activist, who did not wish to be named, said that since manual scavengers are cheaper to hire and easily available, it is tough to expect a change.
Meanwhile, the officials are hoping that these machines would be put to good use during the monsoon.
A joint initiative of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) and Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI), each fabricated vehicle was acquired at a cost of ₹ 26 lakh.
The truck includes a special equipment mounted on it that can jet high pressure water to flush sludge and clear chokages.
Two people are required to operate it. One in the driver’s seat regulating pressure and the other to down the hose to the choke point.
Entrepreneurship
The IT Minister urged the Industries Department and HMWSSB to design a programme to promote SC/ST entrepreneurship under T-PRIDE — Programme for Rapid Incubation of Dalit Entrepreneurs — scheme, which would solve the issue of private water tanker operators in the city.
While Minister for Animal Husbandry Talasani Srinivas Yadav felt, “People of Hyderabad are fortunate to get jetting machines just before the rains,” Mr. Rama Rao expressed his concern in a different way.
“In a way I am afraid (of the monsoon in Hyderabad). I have a feeling that it should rain outside Hyderabad, it need not rain here, ” he said.
Criminal offence
“We need ₹ 11,000 cr to change the whole system and we will work in a phased manner,” he added.
Manual scavenging is defined under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, and employment of manual scavengers is a criminal offence.
All the sewer jetting trucks are GPS-enabled and BS-IV complaint. Users can reach HMWSSB at 155313 helpline for issues relating to sewer jetting machines.
