I refer to my letter on Mr Modi’s “Swarcch Bharat Abhiyan”, which was published under the above title in Asian Voice, Vol 43, Issue 24, dated 18th October to 24th October 2014.
My letter also mentioned the plight of karamcharis, and noted that no one, including the Indian politicians or your paper have taken this as a serious matter, which you show fit to edit and omit.
I mentioned that, in some areas, even though this is illegal due to health concerns, they are still 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 also employed by the government for cleaning the community dry latrines, Railway stations, government hospitals, etc. Their job frowned upon as it is degrading, filthy and full of health hazards. For their labour they are paid pittance, and in some cases, a bottle of booze.
Readers may be interested in a published article from the UK National Paper, the Daily Mail, 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
Since 1993 this hazardous occupation was made illegal, it takes a UK national paper in 2012 to bring this to the fore from the very heart of the Government of India.
Mohindra Master
Via Email
