Mainstreaming The Marginals

Sarita Brara*

Though India has made tremendous progress in science-technology, economic growth and society as a whole, yet there still exists the shameful practice of manual scavenging. Not only this impedes on human development, it also give rise to stark discrimination. The government has taken steps to address this issue and mainstream these people. Apart from reservation in education, jobs and political representation for the scheduled caste to which they belong provided for in our constitution, National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation was set up in 1997 to help them become economically independent .

The NSKFDC is under the Central Government has an authorised share capital of 200 crore rupees. The main function of the NSKFDC is to act as an apex body for all round Socio-economic upliftment of the Safai Karamcharis and their dependents throughout India.

The mission of NSKFDC is to empower the Safai Karamcharis, Scavengers and their dependents to break away from their traditional occupation, depressed social conditions and poverty and help them to work their own way up the social and economic ladder, with dignity and pride.

Since the inception of NSKFDC nearly two lakh 49 thousand people have benefitted. Financial assistance is provided in the form of 100 per cent grants to the State Channelising Agencies (SCAs) and Central and State Government and their training agencies

These agencies provide skills and entrepreneurial development of Safai Karamcharis and their dependants for taking up income generating activities in industry, service and business sector.

Grants can be provided upto a maximum of Rs. 1.00 lakh per project for :
· Institutional Linkages Programme (lLP)
· Skill up-gradation Training Programme (STP)
· Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP)

The skill upgradation and training is provided in Agricultural and Allied Activities that ranges from setting up of a bio gas plant to mushroom cultivation and handling equipmentor horticulture etc.

Upgradation of training is also provided to take up occupation of artisans and other traditional occupations that includes stone work, handicraft and even wood carving. They are also provided financial assistance and training to set up small business and industries in a large number of areas .

Among the beneficiaries is Manoj Kumar from Gaziabad district. He acquired the skill of making bamboo goods but he did not have enough money to start his own business. He took a loan of 20,000 rupees under one of NSKFDC schemes, today he is happy with the progress in his life. The main features of the various schemes and programmes include:

Term loan for starting any kind of income generating activities: This includes projects costing upto Rs.5.00 lakhs at the interest rate of 6% per annum.

Micro Credit Finance: For taking up any sundry income earning activities MCF is provided upto the extent of Rs. 25,000 per borrower at 5% interest and at 4% for women borrower.

Education loan: Term loan is provided to students for technical and professional courses of graduation and higher levels upto the extent of Rs.3.00 lakhs per student or Rs.75,000/- per year at the interest rate of 6% per annum.

Sanitation related economic activities: For a more scientific and hygienic approach to removal and disposal of garbage so that there is no direct contact with garbage and unhygienic substances thereby lowering the exposure of the sanitation worker to hazardous and unhealthy conditions.

Loan to the tune of 10 lakh rupees is provided for starting sanitation related income generating activities. They may include a mechanized garbage disposal work, mechanized soak pit cleaning work, pay and use toilets facilities, etc.

Training Programmes: Because of the prevailing social scenario most persons from this community are devoid of any skills other than scavenging and sweeping work. In most of the cases the youth belonging to this community would be the first generation entrepreneurs and therefore invariably require training. They may take up training in trades, skill up-gradation and entrepreneurial development. The entire cost of training including costs of fees, stipend, raw materials, tools and boarding charges if it is a residential course is provided by NSKFDC as grant to the SCA upto Rs.1.00 lakh per project. Further, for those wishing to start self-employment ventures, the SCAs are expected to provide loan to them on completion of their training. Launching of Awareness programmes is also an important component of the strategy to empower these people.

Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers

The objective of the scheme is to assist the scavengers which are yet to be rehabilitated in a time bound manner. Under the scheme the beneficiaries are allowed to avail second and subsequent loan from banks if required, without capital subsidy and interest subsidy and other grants under the scheme.

Both Micro Financing (Upto Rs.25000/-) and Term Loan (Upto Rs.5.00 lakh ) will be provided at concessional rates of interest. Micro financing will also be done through Self Help Groups (SHGs) and reputed Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs). The beneficiaries are free to select any viable income generating self employment project.

Implementation Period

The State Channelising Agencies (SCAs) distributes the funds received from NSKFDC or any other identified agency at apex level within a period of three months to the beneficiaries. Since the scavengers will be rehabilitated in non-traditional professions, they will require training to acquire new skills and entrepreneurship capabilities. This can be given by government agencies or institutes as well as by reputed specialized training agencies. The average training cost has been taken as Rs.14,000/- per beneficiary, which includes provision for training fee, kits and stipend to trainees.

Jayanti Bai Dumar, a resident of Purvi Bhatta Mohalla, in Katni district of Madhya Pradesh was doing the wok of manual scavenging five years back and her income was only 12,000 in a year. She wanted to get away from this inhuman work and set up her own business. She took a loan of Rs. 50,000 under the schemes of NSKFDC for painting work. Now she is able to earn 30,000 a year. The money may not be much but at least she is leading a life with pride and dignity.

But it is unfortunate that even today a large number of people are still engaged in the inhuman and shameful practice of manual scavenging. According to the findings of the Census 2011, there are around 13 lakh insanitary latrines of which some were serviced by humans and others by animals. As Minister for Empowerment and Social justice Mr Mukul Wasnik himself said that if such latrines are there, it means that there is bound to be manual scavenging”. This means that the actual number of people involved in manual scavenging is much more than earlier estimated .

With the new revelation of the Census 2011 the government will have to find the extent of the problem and finalise a strategy to address this very serious and urgent issue. The Government is thinking of bring a new law on manual scavenging .

But till the time these insanitary latrines are there the problem will remain and for manual scavenging to be completely eradicated each of those involved in this inhuman practice will have to rehabilitated.

It is only after this is done that the objective of bringing them up the social and economic ladder with pride and dignity will be achieved.

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*The author is a Freelance Journalist.

Disclaimer : The views expressed by the author in this article are her own and do not necessarily reflect the views of  INVC.

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