Can Robotic Cleaning Replace Manual Scavenging?
DEC23 Vishal Arora DEC23 Vishal Arora

Can Robotic Cleaning Replace Manual Scavenging?

Rajasthan has introduced robotic cleaners, a significant technological advancement aimed at replacing manual scavenging. While this represents a notable step forward, it may not scratch the surface of a deeper, more profound issue: the persistent lack of dignity imposed on Dalits, the community most affected by manual scavenging. After all, the problem of manual scavenging is not merely technical but deeply human.

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12-Year-Old Dalit Rape Survivor Gets Rs. 600 Pension as ‘Justice’
OCT23 Vishal Arora OCT23 Vishal Arora

12-Year-Old Dalit Rape Survivor Gets Rs. 600 Pension as ‘Justice’

Recently, a young girl in tattered clothes knocked on doors in Madhya Pradesh state’s Ujjain district, seeking help after a horrific rape. She’s home now, but what she and her family have gotten from the government suggests victims who are poor and/or Dalits receive a form of “justice” that corresponds with their perceived social standing.

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The Price of Peaceful Protest in Uttar Pradesh
OCT23 Vishal Arora OCT23 Vishal Arora

The Price of Peaceful Protest in Uttar Pradesh

When the Uttar Pradesh state police recently arrested 10 activists, mostly Dalits, the alarm bells didn’t just ring for them. They echoed through the entire fabric of Indian society. Their supposed crime? A peaceful protest for land rights in Gorakhpur. They had a simple demand—an acre of land for marginalised communities.

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