"Manual scavenging is a stink that never washes off". In the light of this statement, provide the reasons for the unabated existence of manual scavenging in Indian society and suggest possible solutions.

Reason for its existence despite above measures

1. It is based on the polluting nature of caste based discrimination based

on culture sanction. No amount of westernization and sanskritisation would remove it. [Louis Dumont]

1. Celestin Bougle: Jajmani relationship are getting reflected in the present occupations

2. lack of effective implementation of government policies : subcontracting of cleaning work to private sector.

3. Lack of alternate opportunities for people: eg: Indian skilling report over 83% Unskilled in India

4. Growth of slums in the cities where lack of sanitation and hygiene practices → they are forced to work for meagre money

5. In villages still caste based

discrimination highly prevelant eg: ghettonization of houses

Possible solutions

(1) Reformation in the cultural system which could happen through social system: laws, socialisation etc [Talcott parsons]

(2) providing new avenues of work through skilling. Manual scavenging is pathological according to Durkheim

(3) Marxist : equatable distribution of resources in line with Article 39(b) and 39(c)

(4) Institutional strengthening : National commission for SC has not submitted its report after 2017.

(5) Better political representation through grassroot level democracy: Real candidates rather than puppet candidates

(6) BR Ambedkar: Establishment of social democracy & economic democracy

(7) More use of technology for cleaning sewers and ban on dry latrines

(8) Education and Urbanisation - MN Srinivas: caste identities would get eclipsed