India is perhaps the only country where people clean human excreta manually and that this work is 'reserved' for one particular community. The tragedy is that this community is isolated with in the major movements too.

Vidya Bhushan Rawat The Safai Karmchari Andolan's Bhim Yatris and those who expressed
soldiarity with them are sitting on a Dharna at Jantar Mantar at 10 am
today to call for action against manual scavenging and complete
stoppage of death in sewage lines. India is perhaps the only country
where people clean human excreta manually and that this work is
'reserved' for one particular community. The tragedy is that this
community is isolated with in the major movements too. Though the
practice of manual scavenging is the biggest blot to our society, no
serious attempts have been made to eliminate it. There are two side of
the story. One, the government has to take serious measures and the
other, the community has to respond at its own. Unfortunately, some
time, we focus on the other and leave the community.

While none exonerate the corrupt, criminal and casteist Indian
society, we also hope that the community leaders, activists will
mobilise community to leave this practice at their own. Let all the
safai karmcharis boycott these government institutions for ever unless
discrimination end.

But there are ugly realities too. We know the Safai Karmcharis fight
an isolated battle. Their issue is not considered big even with in the
Dalit movement. I was disappointed yesterday not see the familier
faces who are there in protests in Delhi. Is this issue not an issue
for us ? Is this not an issue that Baba Sahbe had thought ? Is this
issue is not for Ambedkarites or even for the 'progressive leftists ?

We blame to every one but do not have time for introspection ? We
blame that others appropriate the movements but what about us ? We
talk of dominance of communities but dont we dominate at our forums
and isolate others.

Have we not reduced the issue of elimination of manual scavenging to
that related to 'Balmikis' and manual scavenging communities only. How
long will this go ?

Manual Scavenging and sewage deaths shows how 'big' our country is and
how much have we developed as a 'society' and 'nation' of 'civilised'
that we boast so much every day on our TV channels and 'sociology
text-books.

Can we not say that India need 'azadi' from manual scavenging ' ? Hope
all the revolutionaries who demand Azadi also understand that our
biggest azadi must be from caste discrimination, Untouchability,
manual scavenging which is the biggest form untouchability in India.

Keep our egos aside as that makes us blind. We know everything is
reduced to dust in the power games and ego hessels. Stand for a while,
think for a while and support the cause if not the individuals. This
is the biggest challenge before us. Go uninvited. Stand as ordinary
citizen just to listen as the cause is bigger. We know not everyone
can do it as every body is engaged in so much of work and particularly
in the last two years, people are exhausted with every day events,
protests but that is where we have to remain strong and energetic.

Our solidarity with each movement, each campaign, each effort to
demolish the brahmanical system of untouchability, caste system which
does not give you opportunity to decide work of your choice. We stand
in solidarity with all those who are working to eliminate manual
scavenging and caste discrimination.