I was reading an article on the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA), and I must say that I am shocked.
It seems that in 1986, the Central Government initiated, the Central Rural Sanitation Programme (CRSP), primarily with the objective of improving the quality of life of the rural people and also to provide privacy and dignity to women. The concept of sanitation was expanded to include personal hygiene, home sanitation, safe water, garbage disposal, excreta disposal and waste water disposal. With this broader concept of sanitation, and with effect from 1999, CRSP adopted a “demand driven” approach with the name “Total Sanitation Campaign” (TSC), and now renamed Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA).
It seems, 28 years on, from 1986 to 2014, nothing has changed apart from coming up with new names to the scheme/s. Rather than eradicating, Indians still treat India as garbage dump in both urban and rural areas. You will find litter wherever you go, and in some places open exposed drains. It still has antiquated drains that get blocked with garbage which cannot cope during monsoon, flooding and bringing up sewage. Rural people still using open fields as latrines, where, especially women can be exposed to dangers. Embarrassingly, it takes Mr Modi to bring this up to the fore again in 2014.
Regarding the current situation, I have noticed and find it shocking that no one, including the Indian politicians or your paper bringing forth the plight of the Karamcharis, mainly dalits, who are the real heroes/heroines in this matter. They are the ones who clear all the garbage.
Even though this was made illegal in 1993, in some areas, they are engaged or employed for manually carrying human excreta, and on the construction and maintenance of dry latrines. Apart from being employed by individual households, many are still employed by the government for cleaning the community dry latrines, Railway stations, government hospitals, etc. Their job frowned upon as it is so degrading, filthy and full of health hazards. They dive into blocked sewers to clear blockages, without any safety equipments, and they are paid pittance for their labour.
Readers may be interested in an article that was published in the UK National Paper, the Daily Mail in August 2012,http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2190251/And-thought-bad-job-Indian-sewer-diver-paid-just-3-50-day-plus-bottle-booze-unclog-Delhis-drains.html.
As Indians, isn’t this embarrassing for us too?
Mohindra Master
By email
