Double Discrimination
Dalit Women in Manual Scavenging
In a system enforced by caste and patriarchy, over a million Dalit women in India pick up human excreta with their hands and carry it on their heads to dispose. Manual Scavenging is the practice of collecting human excreta by hand and disposing it, cleaning inside dark septic tanks and sewers, basically anything that is a violation of human dignity. An occupation based solely on caste, reserved for the “apparently” lowest of the society. Passed on from generation to generation, this system has thrived well into the 21st century because of wilful ignorance by the system and a casteist mindset prevalent in all aspects of the Indian society and administration. Societal exclusion, poverty and Oppression are intertwined in the lives of the women. In this 2 part Docu-series commissioned by Wateraid India, we dissect the issue with experts and hear the women and their stories.
Producer
Sudharak Olwe, PPT
year
2021
Profile
Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Script
Part 1: Introduction
In the first part we meet Ramon magsaysay Winner and Activist Wilson Bezwada, Author Bhasha Singh, Activist Martin Mcwan and Researcher Shailesh Darokar who take us through the historical origins of Manual Scavenging and its unbroken relationship with caste, the current circumstances and issues of the women and explore the question "why is this still a thing?"" Shot in Meerut and Ghaziabad.
Part 2: Rehabilitation Realities
For over 3 decades, Multiple laws banning the practice have been created but successive governments have been unsuccessful in stopping the practice. We travel to the rural villages of Madhya Pradesh to speak to on ground activists and meet the women who are struggling due to both casteism and systemic apathy.