---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Shiva Shankar <sshankar@cmi.ac.in>
Date: Thu, Apr 21, 2011 at 12:43 PM
Subject: Re: death in a manhole (fwd)
To:
Dear Friends, here is mail from Stalin K, the director of the award winning film 'India Untouched'.
Please join the fight against manual scavenging.
Shiva Shankar.
-----------------
Hi Shiva, This video made by our community correspondent in Ludhiana may interest you. Please feel free to circulate widely.
http://indiaunheard.videovolunteers.org/jai/lives-wasted-in-gutters/
Two manual scavengers were killed while working without any safety masks or gloves which necessarily have to be provided by the government. Men – particularly from the Chuhar, Mehathar, Halalkhor, Lalbaghi, Bangi, Thotti and Jamadar lower castes – are commonly employed as manual scavengers and sewage cleaners in India. These caste subgroups are generally referred to as Valkimis. A Valmiki is considered to be the lowest of the low in the caste hierarchy. In Ludhiana, 90-95 percent of the Valmiki community are engaged in this horrendous work; everyday their lives are under threat and their dignity is taken away.
In this video our community correspondent, Jaikumar, highlights the dangers of this work. He urges the government to make safety provisions for these cleaners who work in sewers; the drains often contain abnormally high percentage of carbon dioxide, varying amounts of methane, hydrogen & hydrogen sulphide and a low percentage of oxygen. When cleaners are directly exposed to these gases they fall sick and even, as this video shows, die immediately.
Jai Kumar speaks about his community, "Members of my community are poor and there are high levels of illiteracy. They aren't aware of the dangers attached to these jobs or of other opportunities available. It is crucial that they educated about the risks involved. Only then will they be empowered to demand safety equipment and even an end to this practice all together."
On Wed, Apr 20, 2011 at 9:33 AM, Shiva Shankar <sshankar@cmi.ac.in> wrote:
The law against 'manual scavenging' is not enforced even in the
capital of this country.
Shiva Shankar.
-------------------
Two safai karamcharis die while cleaning manhole
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Two-safai-karamcharis-die-whi
le-cleaning-manhole/articleshow/8021153.cms
TNN | Apr 18, 2011, 11.21pm IST
NEW DELHI: Two safai karamcharis died after inhaling poisonous
gases while cleaning a manhole in Bawana in northwest Delhi on
Monday. The victims have been identified as Harvinder (25) and
Anil (26). The incident was reported around 10.45am in DSIDC
industrial area, said cops.
The two were working for a private contractor hired by Delhi Jal
Board and were clearing a blocked sewer in the area when the
incident took place, said police. Cops said, Harvinder had
climbed down the sewer when he lost consciousness after inhaling
the poisonous gases.
Police said Anil decided to go after Harvinder when he stopped
responding to his calls, but met with a similar fate. "When Anil
descended into the gutter , he too lost consciousness and
subsequently died. Another labourer Joginer was found lying
unconscious," said a cop.
While Anil and Harvinder were declared brought dead, Joginder is
reportedly critical.
--
Stalin K.
Director
Video Volunteers - Empowering Community Voices
Phone : (W) 0832-2281032 (M) 99235-94635
Skype: stalink1234
www.videovolunteers.org/
http://twitter.com/videovolunteers
Watch our videos: indiaunheard.videovolunteers.org
From: Shiva Shankar <sshankar@cmi.ac.in>
Date: Thu, Apr 21, 2011 at 12:43 PM
Subject: Re: death in a manhole (fwd)
To:
Dear Friends, here is mail from Stalin K, the director of the award winning film 'India Untouched'.
Please join the fight against manual scavenging.
Shiva Shankar.
-----------------
Hi Shiva, This video made by our community correspondent in Ludhiana may interest you. Please feel free to circulate widely.
http://indiaunheard.videovolunteers.org/jai/lives-wasted-in-gutters/
Two manual scavengers were killed while working without any safety masks or gloves which necessarily have to be provided by the government. Men – particularly from the Chuhar, Mehathar, Halalkhor, Lalbaghi, Bangi, Thotti and Jamadar lower castes – are commonly employed as manual scavengers and sewage cleaners in India. These caste subgroups are generally referred to as Valkimis. A Valmiki is considered to be the lowest of the low in the caste hierarchy. In Ludhiana, 90-95 percent of the Valmiki community are engaged in this horrendous work; everyday their lives are under threat and their dignity is taken away.
In this video our community correspondent, Jaikumar, highlights the dangers of this work. He urges the government to make safety provisions for these cleaners who work in sewers; the drains often contain abnormally high percentage of carbon dioxide, varying amounts of methane, hydrogen & hydrogen sulphide and a low percentage of oxygen. When cleaners are directly exposed to these gases they fall sick and even, as this video shows, die immediately.
Jai Kumar speaks about his community, "Members of my community are poor and there are high levels of illiteracy. They aren't aware of the dangers attached to these jobs or of other opportunities available. It is crucial that they educated about the risks involved. Only then will they be empowered to demand safety equipment and even an end to this practice all together."
On Wed, Apr 20, 2011 at 9:33 AM, Shiva Shankar <sshankar@cmi.ac.in> wrote:
The law against 'manual scavenging' is not enforced even in the
capital of this country.
Shiva Shankar.
-------------------
Two safai karamcharis die while cleaning manhole
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Two-safai-karamcharis-die-whi
le-cleaning-manhole/articleshow/8021153.cms
TNN | Apr 18, 2011, 11.21pm IST
NEW DELHI: Two safai karamcharis died after inhaling poisonous
gases while cleaning a manhole in Bawana in northwest Delhi on
Monday. The victims have been identified as Harvinder (25) and
Anil (26). The incident was reported around 10.45am in DSIDC
industrial area, said cops.
The two were working for a private contractor hired by Delhi Jal
Board and were clearing a blocked sewer in the area when the
incident took place, said police. Cops said, Harvinder had
climbed down the sewer when he lost consciousness after inhaling
the poisonous gases.
Police said Anil decided to go after Harvinder when he stopped
responding to his calls, but met with a similar fate. "When Anil
descended into the gutter , he too lost consciousness and
subsequently died. Another labourer Joginer was found lying
unconscious," said a cop.
While Anil and Harvinder were declared brought dead, Joginder is
reportedly critical.
--
Stalin K.
Director
Video Volunteers - Empowering Community Voices
Phone : (W) 0832-2281032 (M) 99235-94635
Skype: stalink1234
www.videovolunteers.org/
http://twitter.com/videovolunteers
Watch our videos: indiaunheard.videovolunteers.org
--
Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
http://nandigramunited-banga.blogspot.com/
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