Manual scavenging still a bane, regrets film director P Ranjith

Addressing a seminar organised by Aathi Tamilar Katchi (ATK), Ranjith said that Arunthathiyar community people who are engaged in manual scavenging were placed at the bottom of the social ladder and if the bottom crumbles the entire society would crumble. He said that though government had enacted laws abolishing manual scavenging, Arunthathiyar community people still go to work as manual scavengers. 

Most of the public were not aware of the problems of the manual scavengers and they should be sensitised, he added. Just for the sake of Rs 500 people risk their lives to clean septic tanks. They do not understand the risk attached to employing of people for manual scavenging, the director said. 

Jakkian, president of ATK, said though Supreme Court and legislation had laid the clause clearly that only machines should be used to remove human wastes and Rs 10 lakh compensation should be given to the family of manual scavengers who had died in harness the clauses were not followed and officials still employ manual scavengers. Recently, a documentary movie titled ‘Bad Morning’ showcasing the life of manual scavengers was taken by a director named Stalin which highlight the plight of the community he added.