Reliance Foundation, Observer Research Foundation, and the United Nations India Office have published a compilation of 17 great examples of work in India on each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - Ideas, Innovation, Implementation: India’s Journey Towards the SDGs. The United Nations in September held its General Assembly. One of the key discussions was around the Sustainable Development Goals (2015-2030) and the countries are looking at how they have performed in their halfway mark for these goals. Implementing these ideas could hasten our journey to the SDGs, and provide a strong foundation on which a post-2030 agenda might build further.
Mission Swachhangini: From Hazard to Empowerment | SDG 8
The Swacchangini initiative, a joint effort since 2021 by the Patna Municipal Corporation and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), aims to end the hazardous practice of manual scavenging by training women in mechanised cleaning of sewer systems.
The implementation of this initiative emphasises collectivism and collaboration through women-led groups forming a cooperative society, ensuring the active participation of women in decision-making. Education and skill-building boost confidence, enabling change in norms and helping pave the way for a better future for women and girls.
Overview
Manual scavenging, a hazardous occupation involving the manual removal of untreated human excreta from sewage systems persists in India. Those employed in the occupation face serious health and safety risks; the practice violates human dignity and general well-being. The Women’s Mechanised Cleaning Cooperative (Swachhangini) initiative was launched in 2021 by the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) in the eastern state of Bihar, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with a dual objective to eliminate the degrading and hazardous practice of manual scavenging and help women earn income and achieve financial independence.
Eliminating Inequality and Empowering Women
Gender inequity persists in various contexts, including in decision-making, economic opportunities, and access to education. It is essential to ensure gender equality in order to provide women with the necessary resources and opportunities and to improve the chances for future generations. The practice of manual scavenging persists in India despite being banned under the Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013; according to the Safai Karamchari Andolan, an advocacy group working to eradicate manual scavenging, there are still around 1.8 million manual scavengers in India. Manual scavenging is generally only carried out by those belonging to the Dalit community. According to the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis, a total of 233 people died between 2019 and 2022 due to accidents while cleaning sewers and septic tanks.
Women experience the most severe repercussions of engaging in sanitation work; they are at increased risk of gender-based violence, both within and outside their families. The unsafe conditions of the slums they live in, substance abuse, lack of clean water and sanitation, and scarce access to sexual and reproductive health services leave women and girls vulnerable to illnesses, unintended pregnancies, and violence.
From Mission to Implementation
The project was implemented directly across 50 slums in Patna. Despite challenges in the implementation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project progressed and accomplished its objectives. The project is unique because of its holistic approach to issues of discrimination and lack of awareness. Key strategies identified early in the project were the need for the capacity building of elected representatives or ward councillors on citizen engagement for gender- and rights-based slum development; awareness generation to empower girls; and promoting community collectivisation. Furthermore, this project is in collaboration with the municipal body, highlighting the value of community-public or local government-multilateral partnership in strengthening the sustainability and scalability potential of such programmes.
The success of the Swachhangini campaign, with over 5,708 sewer holes cleaned and numerous wards benefiting, is a testament to the transformative power of localised, community-based solutions. The project’s alignment with the SDGs not only helps the initiative achieve its objectives but also paves the way for long-lasting change in the communities of manual scavengers and sanitation workers. This campaign envisions a future where human dignity, equality, and justice prevail through empowerment, education, and advocacy, indicating that the journey to a better society begins with a single, determined step.
To read further, download the book now: https://reliancefoundation.org/sdgs_publication