Fifty-year-old Bezwada Wilson, national convenor of the Safai Karmachari Andolan (SKA), was declared one of the six recipients of the 2016 Ramon Magsaysay Award by the Philippines-based award foundation, in Manila on Wednesday. The award citation recognises Mr. Wilson’s work in “asserting the inalienable right to a life of human dignity”. Of the estimated 600,000 scavengers in India, SKA has liberated around 300,000, the citation notes.
Here is the transcript of the chat
3:55
The Hindu: Hello everyone. In ten minutes from now we will begin our live chat with Bezwada Wilson, Ramon Magsaysay awardee.
4:00
The Hindu: This is Vidya Venkat, Senior Assistant Editor, and I will be moderating the chat today.
4:01
The Hindu: The Hindu's Coordinating Editor G. Ananthakrishnan will be joining us as a panellist.
4:02
The Hindu: Readers are welcome to ask questions on the subject of eradicating manual scavenging in India by posting live on this comment box or tweeting with hashtag #AskBezwada on Twitter.
4:16
Comment From bezwada wilson
hello
4:16
Comment From siddaiah ke
sir, In tumakuru man scavenging is continue. How it tackle the problem
4:16
Comment From Guest
congrats sir for this award
4:16
Comment From suresh
is any state 100% free of manual scavenging today
4:16
Comment From Guest
hi, what is the current situation on manual scavenging..is any state completely 100% free of it now?
4:16
Comment From Dhruv
Congratulations, Mr. Wilson. I wish at this point of time the government takes up eradicating manual scavenging seriously.
4:16
Comment From Guest
Congrats Sri,What would you do with the money?
4:17
Ananthakrishnan: Congratulations, Mr. Wilson! You would of course tell our visitors how the "skill development and comprehensive rehabilitation" plans of the Safai Karamcharis Finance and Devt Corpn are progressing.
4:19
Comment From aneesh ap
what do you want the govt to do for the complt eradication manual scavenging?
4:19
Comment From bezwada wilson
is it in Karnataka?
4:19
Ananthakrishnan: Also, what the actual situation is with reference to the numbers: the Government admits that there is a gap between the number of people identified so far as working as manual scavengers, and the 26.06 lakh insanitary latrines identified in Census 2011.
4:21
Comment From Guest
Congrats Mr.Wilson! What kind of machines are available for scavenging? That machines also operating same person (i.e., same people do manually)?
4:21
Comment From Dhruv
Do governments still employ karmacharis on the basis of caste?
4:21
Comment From bezwada wilson
thank you so much for all. the credit goes to the courageous women who thrown the baskets of shit
4:22
Ananthakrishnan: Your comment in The Hindu today says the Swachh Bharat scheme does not address the plight of manual scavengers. Do you think the scheme can be modified to do something? After all it collects a cess now.
4:23
Comment From bezwada wilson
no state in the country is free of manual scavenging
4:23
Ananthakrishnan: Would you say the practice is there in Kerala too?
4:26
Comment From bezwada wilson
the whole prize money will go to persons engaged in manual scavenging for rehabilitation
4:27
Comment From A
Can average citizens do anything to help solve the problem?
4:27
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
That is not sufficient to cater 6 lakhs women. they are not supporting to the persons engaging as on today
4:29
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
Identify the women engaged in manual scavenging as on today in war footed manner and rehabilitate them in dignified way. mechanise sewer and septic tanks
4:30
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
first of all we have to mechanise our sewer lines. then everybody will involve without any caste prejudice.
4:30
Ananthakrishnan: In some places like Chennai, we have drains along roads cleaned manually, and it contains mixed waste including excreta.
4:30
Comment From Shefali Singh
its being almost 32 years you almost gave your whole life into this. How many more years will take total eradication of manual scavenging
4:31
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
yes, the government employs on the basis of caste too. Maharashtra reserved the work to only for sweeping community
4:32
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
this is mere scheme to build toilets than focus on manual scavenging. both are different
4:33
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
in kerala there are dry latrines too. we have evidences
4:33
Comment From Vineet
Sir, what can we do..at our level..to eradicate manual scavenging.? I usually think about it, and feel helpless. I dont want to blame the system or any other person.
4:35
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
identify scavengers. stop descriminating persons in the name of caste, gender, creed are any thing. put pressure on elected governments to function democratic way
4:35
The Hindu: Our reader from Bangalore has posted a question on Twitter: Bellatrix Rosie @yumjaoleima How did #BezwadaWilson maintain such a low profile? Heard about you only today. Congratulations! Are donations welcome? #AskBezwada
4:37
Comment From Amit Kumar
Indian Railway is the biggest example where Manual Scavenging is practiced.. any suggestions/ comment on this?
4:37
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
the cities can become smart when there is proper sanitation system. the trains can move without shame when the shit is not falling on the track.
4:37
Comment From Deepu
We in Chennai have seen deaths when people were engaged by private companies - restaurants, etc. Is the law strong enough to encourage private players to invest in mechanisation?
4:38
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
if we all indians mind ..... it is just a weeks time is enough
4:39
Comment From Israel Babu
Congratulation to you on behalf of Marikuppam Telugu Line, indeed I am very proud of you Anna.
4:39
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
you can identify persons engaged. you can write letters to district authority. you can file cases against violators of act
4:41
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
you can donate to organisation who are having tax exemptions. we will intimate you about such organisation committed to do so, when you are ready to support. we will intimate according to geographical reach
4:42
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
railways must accept this and do the conversion as soon as possible.
4:42
Comment From Sreekanth
Is the law in our country is strong enough to protect the scavengers?
4:44
Comment From Dhruv
We love comparing ourselves with China. Does China have manual scavangers? If no, how did they manage to eradicate it?
4:44
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
you can support to any private parties to invest on research and develop new technology
4:46
Comment From Rutwik Dixit
How to tackle the public apathy towards it? What can be the effective policy key which you felt while doing the groundwork? Is strong mechanization and transfer of those workers to other jobs a final answer?
4:46
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
I know israel, i know you from two generations. i have an opportunity to interact with your grand father , grand mother, your father and mother and whole your family. i strongly feel whole ska families in KGF is only one family.
4:47
The Hindu: Dear guests, There will be an expected lag between questions posted and answers to them from Mr. Wilson. so do scroll to bottom posts for answers to your specific questions posted earlier
4:48
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
to stop this is enough
4:49
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
Mao did remarkable intervention soon after cultural revolution in china. that made the chinese to take the baton of managing sanitation everybody equally
4:50
Comment From Rajeev
Sir, What will be your next step and what is the source of your inspiration.#AskBezwada
4:50
Comment From Guest
Technologically how equipped are we to tackle manual scavenging??
4:51
Comment From Israel Babu
manual scavenging still exists in KGF, I have seen personally. Most of them are un employees who worked for Barath Gold Mines Ltd.
4:52
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
my country and my beloved citizens and BR Ambedkar
4:53
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
we have to develop and advance our technology to address needs. we need political will to resolve.
4:54
Ananthakrishnan: Which is the bigger hurdle to eradication? Political will or money allocation? Is the present Central govt responsive to your demands?
4:55
Comment From kiran
Congrats sir.You made even courts to follow the laws(Nizamabad Court issue).Jai Bheem
4:56
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
scavenging is every where in the country. some places more and some places less.... the dry latrines... where women carry human excreta are more in northern parts of the country
4:57
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
BGML, KGF 114 years dry toilets after our struggle converted in to flush out. they have not constructed new toilets. that is the reason the old toilets still need scavengers to clean. more over there is acute water crisis. we have to put pressure on government to have a good sanitation
4:58
Comment From Guest
Unfortunately, two days back in TamilNadu 3 young men died cleaning a clogged sewage tank. What can I do if I see a manual scavenger as of now?? What are the legal options available to stop that. I think every person has to jump in to give the political class more pressure. There should be more Wilsons in the strees...
4:59
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
allocations are less.... if it is... even that the officers are not utilizing...courts are not functioning... police stations are not filing cases.... this is the fight
5:00
Comment From Rajarshi
Sir,Do you thinks Mr Modi's effor to build toilets in school will help to reduce manual scavenging.
5:01
The Hindu: Our reader on Twitter has posted this question: Nilesh G. Naik @drealNileshNaik How does he intend to bring local political leaders on board as stakeholders in his initiatives? #AskBezwada
5:01
Comment From Israel Babu
Absolutely what you said is right Anna ...!
5:02
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
political pressure needed.... the prime Minister must announce.... when he can declare india.... our beloved country becomng manual scavenging free.... this must come on 15th August 2016... from red fort speech
5:03
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
building toilets in schools will solve the problem for using toilets while students are there in the schools
5:04
Comment From Dhruv
I have seen sanitation workers not even using bare hands to segregate waste. Can't the local body provide basic stuff like gloves and boots?
5:04
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
when the elected governments take the decisions.... eveery body will fall on the track
5:06
Comment From Hariharan PV
Hello Mr Wilson... Great to hear about your works, and congrats for the achievements.. We have designed schemes whereby 200 families who are unskilled and need at least two jobs per family... which could generate not less than Rs.10,000 per month per individual. We are looking for personalities like you to be involved, to take this forward... How do we contact you,... Thank you
5:09
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
safety gear is required in cases of emergency services...
5:09
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
you can contact SKA national office or my mobile number is there in website... 9311234793, skandolan@gmail.com. thank you
5:10
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
local leaders and all citizens must be part of eradication movement
5:10
Comment From Hariharan PV
Thank you Mr Wilson... noted the contact details .. regards
5:10
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
hope we will reach to our destination of equal society soon
5:12
Comment From Bezwada Wilson
Jai Bhim
5:13
The Hindu: With this we are wrapping up our live chat. Thanks to Mr. Wilson for taking time off on a busy day to interact with us. And thanks to our panellist Mr. Ananthakrishnan for his sharp questions. Thanks also to our readers and Twitter followers for participating in this.
5:14
The Hindu: A transcript of this interaction will be available on The Hindu website for future reference
5:14
Comment From Hariharan PV
Thank you THE HINDU for this great service
5:14
Comment From Guest
congratulation sir action speaks more than words.salute to you
