Manual Scavenging in Karnataka and THAMATE
It is decades since the inhuman practice of manual scavenging is officially banned in India. However manual scavenging continues disgracefully in several states. The latest Socio-Economic Caste Census data released by Government of India in July 2015 highlights that 1, 80, 657 households are engaged in the degrading work of manual scavenging to make an earning. The state of Maharashtra takes the lead with 63,713, households engaged in the task and is followed by the states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tripura and Karnataka, as per the Census data.
Karnataka has nearly 15,375 manual scavengers according to the Census data.
THAMATE
THAMATE is community based development organization based in Tumkur in Karnataka, India and has been working towards eradication of manual scavenging by collectivizing members of the manual scavenging community to demand for their rights, and also in turn collect information to file PIL on all discrepancies. THAMATE is also working towards breaking the cycle of the job passed on fromgeneration to r generation, ensuring that the community has access to proper education facilities for children. THAMATE has carried out community-based process considering some key strategies that are in tune with The Employment of Manual Scavenging and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act 1993 and Prevention of Atrocities Act (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes). The strategies involve working on four different aspects including:
- Prevention (mass awareness, information on acts, rules and regulations)
- Eradication (ensuring accountability of government, fact finding on health Rehabilitation (demanding social security for aged persons, alternative employment/skill training for youth) and education for children
- Affirmative action for the marginalised community of manual scavengers.
To know more about THAMATE visit : http://thamate.weebly.com/about.html
A video testimony presents an overview of Manual Scavenger community in Karnataka, which is a Dalit community,where people of the community are considered as “untouchable” by the dominant castes. The testimonies demonstrate the geographical spread of the community in the region, their overall socio-economic condition and their inter generational occupation that is often associated with stigma.
The video testimony can be accessed on: