Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Murder in the sewer: on deaths during manual cleaning of sewage

Murder in the sewer: on deaths during manual cleaning of sewage

Deaths during manual cleaning of sewage are unacceptable

All human lives are precious (कीमती, बहुमूल्य, मूल्यवान), but, in practice, some are seen as less precious than others. Despite (इसके बावजूद) the efforts of courts and governments, law and enforcement (प्रवर्तन) have been unable to keep a certain category of workers out of harm’s way: those who are engaged in sewage cleaning. While the job itself is dangerous, as several other human pursuits (खोज, तलाश, लक्ष्य) are, sewage cleaning involves working with human excreta, and cannot be seen without invoking (आह्वान करना, विनती करना) the concept of dignity of labour. To allot (आवंटित करना, नियत करना, बाँटना) the task of removing excreta and cleaning sewers to humans when machines are able to do the work is a gross violation of rights. It is in this context that Tamil Nadu’s recent move to notify the rules of the Prohibition (निषेध, रोक, अभिनिषेध) of Employment as Manual Scavengers (कचरा उठाना, साफ़ करना, कूड़ा हटाना) and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, though belated, must be seen. While manual ‘scavenging’ is completely prohibited, the rules allow manual cleaning, in specific conditions where mechanical equipment cannot be deployed (तैनात करना) to fix the problem, or when it is absolutely necessary to have human intervention, after stating the valid reasons for allowing such a process to take place. But, more importantly, it specifies a long list of protective devices and gear that any person engaged to clean a sewer or a septic (विषाक्त) tank must be provided, including air line breathing apparatus, air line respirator, air purifier gas mask, a device for artificial respiration, mask and breathing apparatus. Besides this, chlorine masks, emergency medical oxygen resuscitator kit, gas monitor for gases, hydraulic devices, and first aid will have to be provided by the employer. The list is not limited to those devices mentioned. Regular maintenance of the equipment and devices has also been mandated (अनिवार्य करना) by the rules. Naturally, all workers must be fitted out in the safety gear before they enter the sewer line.

The practice of manual cleaning of septic tanks and sewers has been, and will always be, as long as it exists, a serious concern in any country sworn to humane treatment of all citizens. While quibbling (वक्रोक्ति, टाल मटोल) has dominated discussions about the actual number of deaths due to manual scavenging, government-acknowledged deaths from manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks are shocking enough. A total of 971 people lost their lives while cleaning sewers or septic tanks since 1993, the year the law prohibiting employment of manual scavengers was enacted (अभिनय करना, क़ानून का रूप बनाना), according to the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry. Tamil Nadu is among the top States in the list. Since the causes of deaths while cleaning sewers and septic tanks are predictable — noxious (हानिकारक, अस्वास्थ्यकर, हानि पहुंचनेवाला) gases — not taking measures to prevent those deaths would be criminal. Proper implementation of the rules, and adequate monitoring are absolutely essential. Simultaneously, all efforts must be taken, within existing schemes, to provide compensation (मुआवज़ा, क्षतिपूर्ति) to the family members of those who have died, and to provide them a way out of the profession, if they so wish.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Precious (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - कीमती, बहुमूल्य, मूल्यवान
English Meaning - Of high price.

2.Despite (Preposition)

Hindi Meaning - इसके बावजूद
English Meaning - The feeling of despising someone or insulting.

3.Enforcement (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रवर्तन
English Meaning - The act of imposing upon some person.

4.Pursuit (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - खोज, तलाश, लक्ष्य
English Meaning - The action of pursuing someone or something.

5.Invoke (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - आह्वान करना, विनती करना
English Meaning - To make an earnest request for something.

6.Allot (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - आवंटित करना, नियत करना, बाँटना
English Meaning - To appropriate for a special purpose.

7.Prohibition (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - निषेध, रोक, अभिनिषेध
English Meaning - The act of prohibiting.

8.Scavenge (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - कचरा उठाना, साफ़ करना, कूड़ा हटाना
English Meaning - To remove dirt from an area.

9.Deploy (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - तैनात करना
English Meaning - Station troops or weapons

10.Septic (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - विषाक्त
English Meaning - Relating to putrefaction.

11.Mandate (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - अनिवार्य करना
English Meaning - To officially require something.

12.Quibble (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - वक्रोक्ति, टाल मटोल
English Meaning - An instance of the use of unclear language or arguments to evade a point at issue.

13.Enact (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - अभिनय करना, क़ानून का रूप बनाना
English Meaning - To establish by legal procedure.

14.Noxious (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - हानिकारक, अस्वास्थ्यकर, हानि पहुंचनेवाला
English Meaning - Harmful or injurious to health.

15.Compensation(Noun)

Hindi Meaning - मुआवज़ा, क्षतिपूर्ति
English Meaning - An act of rewarding someone or making up for someone’s loss or damage.