Manual scavenging has been prevalent in India for a long time and giant strides in technology and development have not worked to the advantage of this inhumane work. Although the Manual Scavenging Act was introduced in 2013 to abolish this practice, it has met with little success as people, especially women continue to do this menial work.

Asif Sheikh who himself faced marginalization in his childhood learned that the manual scavengers are made to believe that they are low caste and this work is what God has chosen for them and they should do it. He decided to change this misconception and started the Jan Sahas Organisation to put an end to manual scavenging.

Jan Sahas Movement

Asif Sheikh founded the Jan Sahas organization in 2000. They started their work at Bhaurasa in Madhya Pradesh where they convinced 26 women to give up this unpleasant job and were provided with alternate employment. According to Asif, the women burnt their baskets as a symbol to boycott the ill practice. The women are taught skills like tailoring that will enable them to earn their livelihood.

Nationwide Movement

The Jan Sahas Movement met with great success when in 2013, a nationwide campaign was launched along with former manual scavengers to put an end to the practice. Around 65 percent of former manual scavengers are trained to become advocates to fight for the rights of the backward communities and assist in imparting justice to them.

The efforts of responsible citizens like Asif Sheikh should be appreciated and acknowledged by society as they selflessly strive to uplift people from the shackles of poverty.

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