Rehabilitate Manual Scavengers: Ensure Dignity, Livelihood & Social Inclusion

Sign this petition to demand meaningful rehabilitation and social integration for former manual scavengers in India.

Manual scavenging has long been a dark reality in India, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. While The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 bans this practice, thousands who once relied on it for survival now struggle to find alternative livelihoods.

With over 58,000 identified manual scavengers and 377 deaths due to hazardous cleaning in the last five years, it is clear that banning the practice is not enough—we must provide a future for those who were forced into it.

Most former manual scavengers face deep-rooted social stigma, lack of skills, and economic insecurity, making it nearly impossible for them to transition into mainstream professions. Rehabilitation efforts remain largely ineffective, leaving them trapped in cycles of poverty and exclusion. Without sustainable alternatives, many risk being pushed back into unsafe and illegal sanitation work.

Supreme Court Calls for Immediate Action

In a recent directive, the Supreme Court of India mandated an immediate end to manual scavenging in major metropolitan cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.

The court expressed deep concern over the persistence of this inhumane practice, especially following a tragic incident in Delhi where two individuals lost their lives while cleaning a sewer. Municipal commissioners and chief executive officers have been instructed to report compliance within two weeks.

However, despite legal prohibitions, the practice continues, highlighting the need for effective enforcement and support systems to integrate former manual scavengers into mainstream society.

🔴 We Demand Urgent and Comprehensive Rehabilitation Measures

✅ Strict Enforcement of the Ban – Implement the Supreme Court's directive to eliminate manual scavenging with stringent penalties for violations.

✅ Skill Development & Employment – Provide vocational training, financial aid, and guaranteed job placements to help former manual scavengers secure dignified livelihoods.

✅ Education for Future Generations – Ensure access to quality education and scholarships for their children to break the generational cycle of exploitation.

✅ Social Inclusion & Awareness – Conduct campaigns to eliminate discrimination and create employment opportunities in both public and private sectors.

✅ Financial Support & Entrepreneurship – Offer low-interest loans, business training, and startup assistance to help them become self-reliant.

✅ Transparent Monitoring & Accountability – Track the implementation of government schemes like NAMASTE and ensure the rightful beneficiaries receive aid.

Your Support Can Create Change!

By signing this petition, you are advocating for the dignity, safety, and rights of sanitation workers across India. Together, we can ensure that the Supreme Court's directives are implemented and that former manual scavengers receive the support they need to lead dignified lives.

Banning manual scavenging is only half the battle—true justice means restoring dignity, livelihood, and respect to those who were forced into this practice.

Sign this petition today to demand real change and a better future for India’s former manual scavengers.

DIGNITY FOR ALL
MANUAL SCAVENGING MUST FALL!