International Research Journal of Education and Technology

Manual scavenging has been practiced in India for several decades. Manual Scavenging works is like a curse in India despite of 76^th years of independence. Father of nation Mahatma Gandhi considered this manual scavenging as “shame of the nation”. The main objective this research paper to examine the socio-economic profile, health status and nature of works among the manual scavengers in the study area, to highlighted the major problems and challenges faced by manual scavenger’s workers in the study area and to give valuable suggestion for better improvement of working profile and Quality of life among the scavengers workers in Malda district of West Bengal. Malda district of West Bengal has been selected as the study area.  The study reveals that there is lack of awareness among the manual scavenging workers about their alternative employment, beneficial government scheme, safety gear and employment benefits in the study area. The researchers suggested that appropriate safety measures, protective gear and tools should be given at the time of cleaning by the local authority in Malda district of West Bengal. Majority of Scavengers (Dom or Methoard) belonging to the lowest rung of the society, less educated, no livelihood assets, abysmal income from manual scavenging works, no alternative employment opportunity because of their caste-affiliation, stigmatized, humiliated and discriminated in every sphere of the life from the others society peoples.

Keywords: Scavengers, Sanitations, Health, Safety, Poor, Untouchability, Casteism