You are an IPS officer on your first posting in a very poor and isolated rural area of one of the most backward states of the country. In your office complex, of which you are the incharge, there is a frequent sewage related problem, causing inconvenience to the employees in your office complex and severely affecting the efficiency of the workplace. It might also lead to health disorders and diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea etc. To resolve it, the cleaning workers are made to do manual scavenging work without due regards to their safety. Most of these workers are from marginalised castes and are discriminated against socially. You are aware of the laws banning manual scavenging and the loopholes around it. In this context, answer the following questions: (a) What are the issues which you need to address in this situation? (b) Present your course of action to deal with the given situation.

Issues that need to be addressed

(1) Sewage related problem: → affecting productivity of workers ↓ Less work in a given time ↓ Ultimately effects the people of rural area

→ Against Right to health - a Fundamental Right under Article 21

→ Health diseases like cholera, diarrhoea can erode human capital, generate a local epidemic and strain the exchequer of the state

(2) Manual scavenging issue → Can cost their lives → furthers the existing caste inequalities → Against the concept of welfare state under Article 38 of constitution → An illegal practice banned by Statutory Act → Social discrimination leading to variant of Untouchability - banned under Article 17 of constitution → Loopholes within the law → Lack of proper monitoring

• (b) My course of Action Being the IPS of the region, it's my responsibility to enforce the laws, monitor their implementation.

I would take following actions:

1. Mobilise the resources under the existing schemes like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Jal Jeevan Mission to provide tap water and solve sewage problem.

2. Make a new team of young officers to work on manual scavenging problem: → a) Collection of data about the numbers of workers

b) Data on the recruiters

c) Taking help of civil society organisation to report any such incidents or practices operating secretly

1. A strict warning will be given to all employers who will be made aware of the illegality of the practice and if it still continues, punishment within the domain of law will be given.

2. Social upliftment of marginalized sections: → By skilling them under Skill India Mission → By generating awareness about laws like Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 → Compensation and rehabilitation to forced laboures → Employment under MGNREGA