<p>Manual scavenging has not been totally eradicated and those engaged in it are yet to be fully rehabilitated, the study found.<br /><br />Titled "Mirage of social mobility: the case of Safai Karmarcharis in Karnataka," the study was conducted by Dr K G Gayathridevi of the Centre for Ecological Economics and Natural Resources of Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore.<br /><br />The study was conducted from a sociological perspective focusing on understanding the intricate social relationship and socio-economic mobility among the scavenging social groups, Gayathridevi said.<br /><br />Field studies conducted in two fast-growing urban centres, Gulbarga and Tumkur, revealed that the heinous system is thrust upon poor and migrant Scheduled Caste families, the study said.<br /><br />While in North India the Bhangi community are the safai karmacharis by caste and profession, in Karnataka the Mehtars and the Mangarodis are employed as manual scavengers, it said.<br /><br />Most of the safai karmacharis are women but a majority of them lend their services on behalf of the menfolk, the study revealed.<br /><br />"Thus, these women workers are marginalised and deprived of benefits reaching them directly," Gayathridevi said. <br /><br />"These women are the bread winners in a majority of those households but still remain unsung and marginalised not only by outsiders but also by their own kith and kin," Gayathridevi said.<br /><br />The study revealed that government efforts were not focused upon the community and mere reforms have not enabled social mobility which the community needs for its uplift, she said.<br /><br />"The state has failed in implementing its own legislations enacted to protect the human dignity of this ... the study is an eye-opener," ISEC Director Prof R S Deshpande said.<br /><br />The study also said each family in Gulbarga made about Rs 500 per month through manual scavenging.<br /><br />Traditional system of zamindari practices was still in vogue with the karmacharis offering services to the upper caste households, it said.<br /></p>
<p>Manual scavenging has not been totally eradicated and those engaged in it are yet to be fully rehabilitated, the study found.<br /><br />Titled "Mirage of social mobility: the case of Safai Karmarcharis in Karnataka," the study was conducted by Dr K G Gayathridevi of the Centre for Ecological Economics and Natural Resources of Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore.<br /><br />The study was conducted from a sociological perspective focusing on understanding the intricate social relationship and socio-economic mobility among the scavenging social groups, Gayathridevi said.<br /><br />Field studies conducted in two fast-growing urban centres, Gulbarga and Tumkur, revealed that the heinous system is thrust upon poor and migrant Scheduled Caste families, the study said.<br /><br />While in North India the Bhangi community are the safai karmacharis by caste and profession, in Karnataka the Mehtars and the Mangarodis are employed as manual scavengers, it said.<br /><br />Most of the safai karmacharis are women but a majority of them lend their services on behalf of the menfolk, the study revealed.<br /><br />"Thus, these women workers are marginalised and deprived of benefits reaching them directly," Gayathridevi said. <br /><br />"These women are the bread winners in a majority of those households but still remain unsung and marginalised not only by outsiders but also by their own kith and kin," Gayathridevi said.<br /><br />The study revealed that government efforts were not focused upon the community and mere reforms have not enabled social mobility which the community needs for its uplift, she said.<br /><br />"The state has failed in implementing its own legislations enacted to protect the human dignity of this ... the study is an eye-opener," ISEC Director Prof R S Deshpande said.<br /><br />The study also said each family in Gulbarga made about Rs 500 per month through manual scavenging.<br /><br />Traditional system of zamindari practices was still in vogue with the karmacharis offering services to the upper caste households, it said.<br /></p>