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Nai Disha

Rehabilitation and alternate livelihood of scavenger women: Success story of Sulabh's initiative

Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, Founder of the Sulabh Sanitation Movement, has been moving like a restless saintly person, often visiting cities and towns all overthecountry where removal of human excreta and carrying it away as head-load is a daily occurrence. As soon as hespots people engaged in this degrading occupation, he feels almost impatient to liberate them from this social curse. It was during such a visit to Alwar, a town in Rajasthan, some years ago when he saw a group of young women carrying night soil to a dumping ground. When he stopped his car, got down and approached them, they were all stunned. Normally, what conversation could they have with any well dressed person coming towards them, as the very sight repels people lest they should spoil their day with the stink from the excreta-loaded container on their head. To their great astonishment, the question he asked them was : “ Would you like to change your profession ?” Nobody had ever made such a querry.

A woman cleaning a dry bucket toilet

Scavenging is the practice of manual cleaning of human excreta from service/ dry latrines. The scavengers crawl into the dry latrines and collect the human excreta with their bare hands, carry it as head-load in a container to dispose it off. A caste based and hereditary profession, which is handed down, as a legacy from one generation to the next; “manual scavenging” has been an age-old routine for this community, which is untouched by technological advancement in sanitary practices. Not only does the prevalence of this culture seem antediluvian, but what is worse is the fact that those born in this community are considered agents of pollution due to their background of social hierarchy, based on birth. They are the most oppressed and suppressed class of Indian society- hated, ostracized, vilified and avoided by all other castes and classes. The appalling hardship, humiliation and exploitation they face, have no parallel in human history. The practice started in the Pauranic period continued in the Buddhist, Mauryan, Mughal and British periods

Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak meeting scavenger women at Hazuri Gate, Alwar

Starting the morning with prayer

Was he a good Samaritan or personification of some holy spirit who wanted to rid them of their demeaning profession. They were all taken aback. But seeing the earnestness with which he had approached them, they requested him to visit them in the colony where they lived. Since Dr. Pathak seemed a well-to-do man wanting to change their lot, they talked to their families and neighbours about their lot, and also about their unique meeting with him. It was a sight to behold. Nearly more than 500 women had gathered to listen to Dr. Pathak when he arrived there in the afternoon. They all wanted to know what would make their lives better. And when he asked about the rehabilitation programme for their better livelihood they all agreed with one voice. However, some and many of them asserted, “ Sir, we would not like to touch or use hand made brooms for cleaning dry buckets”. “No, of course you will not. Now you will live with dignity” replied Dr. Pathak. And then he asked if they would come to Delhi and everyone agreed with one voice. In Delhi , when many of them arrived , they were told what they would be required to do at the training centre,which is to be named as ” Nai Disha” ( a new paradigm).

Nai Disha is a vocational training centre in the Alwar district of Rajasthan The centre, which was started at the initiative of Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, Founder, Sulabh Sanitation Movement, on April 2003 is an organization with a difference, and has a distinct vision to change the course of the lives of those who, by virtue of birth alone, were born to bear the burden of shame and ignominy throughout their life as manual scavengers.

With a view to giving a new direction to the crucial issue of rehabilitation of liberated women scavengers through vocational training and making the programme rich in its content Sulabh has set up this center under an innovative model known as Nai Disha, which acts as a model for other organizations engaged in similar tasks. The center has been established with the active cooperation and support of socially enlightened women, belonging to the scavenging community in the vicinity.

Sulabh Sanitation Movement

The noble idea of starting a vocational centre at Alwar is to take out women scavengers out of their dirty occupation and bring them into the mainstream of society. That's how the vocational training centre was rightly named “Nai Disha”. Nai Disha was conceived with the sole objective of breaking this chain of social injustice and inequality. The turmoil in the mind and the life of this community, as depicted in Mulk Raj Anand's novel “Untouchable”, is an insight into how the factor of their birth controls, twists and depresses their day to day life. What this organization undertook was definitely a missionary initiative. It is realized that in

a healthy body is the key to a person's overall well being. Accordingly, it holds, regular medical checkups. But training, in the absence of an alternative to their only source of livelihood, may not be a practical idea. Keeping in mind the economic aspect, Nai Disha also offers the trainees a monthly stipend. The decision regarding selection of courses is taken up by women scavengers themselves. Twenty-eight women have been so far trained in food processing, beauty care, embroidery and cutting and tailoring. They are paid a monthly stipend of Rs.1800.00 so that they do not revert back to their old profession of scavenging. In the first two years these women have not only learnt to interact with bank officials and sign on their cheques but also to market the products they produce on profit earning basis. The women who have undergone the training at the

A group of women who did scavenging work till March
end 2003, being given training in papad making, an edible item.

order to have a major change, a shift in their day-today living is required, which will exorcise the painful memories of their yesteryears. In other words, an alternative was needed to their only source of living. Having worked as manual scavengers for a greater part of their life, today they are learning skills which will take them miles away from this hereditary occupation. At Nai Disha the process of the metamorphosis of scavenger women began. Keeping in mind their interests a training module developed for the purpose, is divided into various segments such as food processing, cutting & tailoring, embroidery, beauty care and functional literacy. The center is guided by the philosophy that

Working in self-help group		Women receiving monthly stipened

centre have acquired self-confidence. The vocational training centre at Alwar is thus, a unique example of women empowerment initiatives. Based on the experience gained during the training programme and the opinions as expressed by the women scavengers particularly at Nai Disha, Alwar, it is suggested that the duration of the training should be of two to three years so that they get a detailed knowledge, both of the theoretical and practical side, of training and can compete in the open market. It is felt that the period of one year or even two years in certain cases is not adequate for a fruitful training. The two-year training should be followed by a oneyear period of rehabilitation so that they get sufficient time for their economic empowerment. The trained women can be put in two categories. In the first category are those with leadership qualities and initiatives who can set up their own enterprise with the help of subsidies and loans available from the Government. This will enable them to produce quality material and also to make necessary arrangements for their marketing. In the second category are those trainees who do not have requisite leadership qualities. They can be brought under a cooperative society by providing all the facilities and assistance. Transforming the lives of these 28 individuals was not an easy task. Initially, these women were not only least bothered about personal hygiene but their useof language, too, was far from polite, especially during their interpersonal communication. But the concerned professionals and functionaries at the centre were mentally prepared for it. Their patience and perseverance reaped results soon. They have instilled in them a sense of worth, to lead the rest of their life with dignity. Nai Disha has taught them how to carve out a niche for themselves on the unshakable wall of this world and rewrite their destiny. The social transformation brought about can be gauged by the incredible fact that the same society that was averse even to touch a scavenger, today readily purchases products (even eatables) prepared by the hands of these very scavengers. Now these women have organized themselves into self-help groups and are availing credit facilities from banks so that they can market their products effectively and sustain their life.

Social transformation–marketing products

Recently a new batch of 28 trainees has been started as some more women from Hazuri Gate expressed their desire to come out of the profession of scavenging and thereby giving up the life of indignity. These women were motivated to join Nai Disha with an ultimate goal to make themselves economically independent as this is the only means to eliminate the evil of scavenging from their social roots. The Alwar model which Sulabh has developed can be adopted elsewhere.

“Hum hongey kamyab…” (We shall be successful…)

Success Stories

i Smt. Usha Chaumar, an
erstwhile scavenger of Alwar, Rajasthan

When she was very young she used to be careless about personal hygiene and the way she handled ``maila' or night soil as she refers to it. Usha is still unable to forget one of her days at work: ``I remember a day when I was cleaning an enclosure and suddenly some muck fell directly on my hand. That is one incident that I am unable to forget.'' When the incident took place she was barely 10. Now, when she is 30, it still remains etched firmly in her mind. Though she smiles while narrating the episode, it has left a deep scar on her psyche. Born into a family engaged in the profession of scavenging at Deeg in Bharatpur, Usha first used to accompany her mother and sisters to work. ``With a broom and metal tray we would venture into the narrow lanes of the colonies and remove the night soil or human excreta physically. With a veil covering our faces we would then walk miles with the tray full of excreta on our heads till we managed to find a place to dispose it of.'' Day after day this remained Usha's routine. And even after she got married to Gabban of Hazoori Mohalla at Alwar at a young age of eight, the practice continued and now she was accompanied by her mother-in-law. Usha recalls with great pain how she often missed leading a normal life like others. ``People used to go to the temple, but for us even venturing close to Jagannath Temple near the palace remained a distant dream though it was barely 200 yards from our colony, that houses nearly 200 families engaged in scavenging. So we never had Prasad from the temple or sang bhajans there,'' she rues. ``At best, we used to travel long distances to far away temples where no one was able to recognise us so that we could gain an entry.'' The trauma of the insult writ large on her face, Usha said what pained her the most was being called ``bhangan, jamadarni or harijan''. ``Even the rickshawpullers who knew us would refuse to take us. And we often remained thirsty as we were too scared to even ask people for water. We were untouchables and people never served us water in a glass. Rather they poured it from a height so no part of their body touched us. This also made us very cautious and we always walked at a distance from people to avoid touching them.''

But then the turnaround in Usha's life came nearly four years ago, on April 23, 2003, when Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak of Sulabh fame reached her and some other women carrying nightsoil through one of the colonies. ``He called out at us from a white car and asked why they were carrying night soil on our heads and if we were prepared to lead a better life. First we were unable to comprehend if he really meant what he said. But then we called him over to our mohalla to speak to our men.''

``It was a sight to behold. Nearly 1,000 women had gathered to listen to `sir' whom we called `baba' then. They all wanted to know what would make their lives better. And he asked if they would come to Delhi and everyone agreed with one voice. Then a year later 50 of us were called to Delhi and lodged in a hotel. It was a dream come true and an eyeopener for us. At the end of our stay we were given Rs 200 each and Rs 100 for our children's sweets.'' ``Then the first training cum production centre of Nai Disha was opened at Alwar and we gave up scavenging and joined it. At Nai Disha we were trained as beauticians, embroidery, stitching, and making papads and pickles.'' Also, the women were educated through a compulsory adult education programme. ``I could not even sign my name earlier, but now I am able to even fill up my bank slips and deposit my cheque. The bank staff also look at us with respect now.

They say you have become ``madam'' now. And I promptly say ``thank you'' to them.'' Like 27 other women of her area, Usha -- who dresses in a blue uniform of the reformed scavengers -- has been going to the centre for three years now. ``We reach there at 9 a.m. and stay there till 4 p.m.. At the centre we work on things we have been trained in. As an incentive for leaving scavenging and taking up the work, we are paid a stipend of Rs 1,800 p.m.'' These women have formed themselves in two selfhelp groups called Chandni and Suraj. They have opened an office at Hazoori Mohalla where they impart beauty tips and teach embroidery and stitching to other women of the area. The papads and pickles sold by these groups have generated a lot of interest at Alwar. ``As the demand outstrips supply, there have been occasions when leading traders of the town have come to our mohalla to strike a direct deal with us,'' declares Usha proudly, adding that `sewain' (hand made vermicelli) and dal papads prepared by the group are extremely popular in the area.

``Those who used to consider us untouchable earlier now eat items prepared by us,'' she says in a light vein. The group has also formed itself into a self-financing system. ``We chip in Rs 50 each every month and this Rs 700 is deposited in the bank. Whenever anyone needs money, this sum becomes available as a soft loan. I also put Rs 200 in a committee deposit so that I can avail of a Rs 5,000 loan whenever I need it,'' she declares. As for the remaining money of Rs 1,800 she earns every month, Usha says she puts it directly in the bank. ``My husband earns a handsome amount and that is enough for the household expenditure. So, I put my money in the bank so that I can educate and marry my children off in style,'' she said, recalling the days when she would be completely dependent on her mother or mother-in-law for every rupee despite working so hard.

The Nai Disha centre, she says, has also earned her huge respect in society and at home. ``My husband
also feels proud of me now and often drops me and picks me up from the centre,'' she chuckles. In the outside world, too, she says there is now full respect for women who have come out of scavenging. ``Last year, we finally managed to visit Jagannath Temple with Dr. Pathak sir. He took us along and the temple priest and all the others there welcomed us. It was a catharsis for our souls and a sense of belongingness enveloped us for the first time.'' Having herself transformed from a scavenger to a normal human being who has self-respect and dignity, Usha now wants to help others like her.

Mrs. Meira Kumar Hon'ble Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment and
Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak alongwith women of Nai Disha.

Kumari Selja, Hon'ble Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, giving awards to the trainees of Nai Disha on the occasion of World Habitat Day

``There are numerous girls who approach me and want to know how they can turn their lives around. I teach them all that I can so that they can lead a better life.''
ii) Smt. Sushila Chauhan an erstwhile scavenger of Alwar, Rajasthan.
Almost everyone in Rajasthan loves rains. The drops of water spell life for the State that is known for its vast desert and long stretches of dry parched land. Yet Sushila Chauhan always dreaded the
precipitation. To her rain did not connote life and exuberance, rather it would spell to her endless ignominy and humiliation.

Born into a family involved for ages in the work of scavenging or physical removal of night soil or human excreta, Sushila dreaded rains as they often ended up spilling the filth on to her body as she would carry it on her head in a metal tray. As the human excreta would drip down, it not only made Sushila feel dirty but also stirred her soul and made her hate herself. ``It was like drops of blood dripping down my body.'' ``I did not even feel like having food then.

The nauseating acidic smell of human waste used to remain with me all through the day, even hours after I would return from work. Also the burden of carrying human waste on the head would result in a continuous body ache. But most of all there was a lack of appetite for food and everything good in life,'' says the 30-year-old as she recounts her tale with moist eyes. Along with the nature of the work, what worked on and disturbed Sushila, who like lakhs of girls in India got into scavenging when she was less than 10 years old, was that there seemed to be no end to this life of drudgery. ``My family had been into scavenging since ages. My father was a sweeper in Mathura while my mother used to do scavenging work there. When I was a young girl, like all others in our colony, I joined her in the work. The day used to start at 6 in the morning and with a broom and metal tray in our hands we used to set out for work.'' Even after she got married at a young age of 14 to Suresh of Hazoori Mohalla in Alwar, life did not change a bit for Sushila. The routine remained the same. The only change was that now instead of working with her mother in Mathura, she used to accompany her mother-in-law in the lanes and bylanes of Alwar.

``On the way to work we would collect mud -- or ash if that was available from some restaurant -- and travel through the same narrow side lanes of buildings falling in our ``vrit'' or jurisdiction. Then we used to first sprinkle the mud or ash on the night soil before removing it with the brooms and put it in the metal trays already layered with mud and ash to prevent the excreta from sticking to the tray.'' All these precautions would however not help her in feeling any better. ``The scavengers have to work all days in a year or else their salary gets cut. It was only on festivals that we used to complete the work early so that we could attend to household chores as well.'' But then life has all through been a struggle for women involved in scavenging.

Erstwhile scavenger woman, rehabilitated at Nai Disha Training Centre, addressing the National Human Rights Commission Meeting on Eradication of Manual Scavenging, 18 March 2007, New Delhi.

While for others the morning would signify an end to obscurity and gloominess of night and the rise of hope and anticipation, to these women it had a completely different connotation attached to it. There would be no morning prayers for them in the nearby temple and no promise of a better future. Rather the break of dawn would mark the start of a new day when they moved out with a broom and a metal tray in their hands into a gloomy future that cast a long dark shadow on their lives. While their veil covered their face, it was unable to hide the shame and humiliation their soul suffered. But for these women it was a matter of survival. Working in inhuman and pathetic conditions they bore the assault on their dignity and pride for a petty remuneration.

As for the wages, Sushila says they were paltry. For a month's work they would get paid only Rs 10 or so. The only other thing that the scavengers would receive from their employers was food -- that too the leftovers from the previous day. By now the appalling conditions under which they worked had become a part and parcel of their life. The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Constitutional Provision of Dry Latrines Prohibition Act 1993 bars such employment, these women are links of a caste based chain. They have been wedded to this hereditary profession and the dirty work of carrying night soil has been passed on to them as a legacy which they have to carry on for life. But on April 23, 2003 the life of many of these women changed for ever. ``That was the day we met Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak of Sulabh fame.

Now for us the past is nothing but a nightmarish experience of life. The association with Nai Disha has given a new turn to our lives.'' A brainchild of Dr. Pathak this centre has provided a lasting solution to their huge problems giving them financial and social security and respect. At Nai Disha the process of metamorphosis of many like Sushila began. Keeping in mind their interests the module was divided into four parts food processing, tailoring, beauty care and a compulsory adult education. ``The nine-month training period at Nai Disha was a phase of rebirth for me and 27 others. We had all lost hope and it appeared that but for removing “maila” day after day there was no other meaning to our life. But the centre helped us realize our potential and restored our lost pride and confidence.

'' The Nai Disha centre slowly but surely moulded and shaped not only their lives but also their spirits. This is manifested in the manner in which the women clad in blue sarees now sing ``Hum Honge Kamyab'' with great pride. Nai disha has taught them how to stand on their own feet and given them the confidence to take their first step again. ``We all have bank accounts now where we save the Rs 1,800 stipend we receive every month. Also, people do not look down upon us any more. Even the high society people in whose homes we worked now do not treat us with contempt.'' The efforts of Nai Disha have brought about a drastic change in the women. While earlier many of them did not take proper hygienic measures and their hands would be constantly full of dirt, they would seldom bathe, indulged in tobacco abuse and used abusive language. All has that changed. Patience and perseverance brought about a drastic transformation in their lives." Now we even say '' '' thank you'' after dealing with the bank staff,'' quips Sushila.

Now the morning sunlight brings with it a new ray of hope into the lives of Sushila and many others like her and their day has a greater meaning.

The daily routine has also changed. It begins with prayers and rituals and often a visit to the nearby Jagannath Temple which was earlier out of bounds for them. ``All this has infused a new life into our beings. The vision of Dr. Pathak has changed the course of life of our generations to come,'' says Sushila, whose daughter Gudia no longer wields the broom. ``I do not want her to get into this wretched work and want her to lead a normal and healthy life. My son Mannu will also not become a sweeper like his forefathers but will seek a better life for himself,'' she says with a new found sense of pride.

The Prime Minister of India, Hon'ble Dr. Manmohan Singh gave an audience to erstwhile
women scavengers trained at Nai Disha, Alwar, on 16th May, 2006 and blessed them.

His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar blessing erstwhile scavenger women,
who have been trained and rehabilitated by Sulabh

Mrs. Usha Chaumar, President Sulabh Sanitation Mission Foundation greeting Hon'ble Mrs.
Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson UPA at her residence on behalf of delegation of Nai Disha, Alwar.

Mrs. Laxmi Nanda, erst-while scavenger women from Nai Disha Alwar expressing feelings of
scavengers through her poem. Mrs. Sonia Gandhi gave patience hearing and blessed the delegation.