Play highlighting plight of manual scavengers to be staged during NHRC street theatre fest

Seven thematic plays, including one on the ills of manual scavenging and the need to end discrimination on the basis of caste and vocation, will be staged in Connaught Place in October as part of a street theatre festival hosted by the National Human Rights Commission.

'Maila Kuchaila' from 'Anubhuti' -- the street play society of the JDM College in Delhi -- is among the seven plays selected by the NHRC for its silver jubilee event, the rights panel said Wednesday.

"The theme of the play is the ills of manual scavenging and the need to end discrimination on the basis of caste and vocation. Other plays include 'Jee Bhi Lay' from 'Navrang', the dramatics society of the Lakshmibai College. The theme of the play is the need to protect the rights of the children of prostitutes and challenges thereof," the NHRC said.

More than 600 people have died while cleaning septic tanks and sewers across the country in the past 25 years, according to data collated by the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK).

According to the data, there have been 634 deaths related to manual scavenging since 1993, with Tamil Nadu reporting the highest number of such deaths at 194 followed by Gujarat 122, Karnataka 68 and Uttar Pradesh 51.

Thirty-three people have died while cleaning septic tanks and sewers in Delhi since 1993.

Five sewage workers had died recently while cleaning a sewer tank in west Delhi's Moti Nagar. They did not have personal protection equipment, a Delhi government enquiry report released Tuesday had found.

Issues of protection of constitutional rights, drug abuse and right to food would also be raised during the event to be hosted at the Central Park.

On October 13, students of the Delhi Technological University (DTU) will perform a play, titled 'Tript', themed on the need to empathise with the victims of drug abuse.

The Jazba Theatre Group will perform a play, titled 'Bhookh', themed on the right to food and how it can be better ensured by avoiding wastage of food.

The Rudraksh Kala Mandal will also perform a play, titled 'Apna Adhikaar Pehchano', themed on domestic violence and how to deal with it taking legal recourse and approaching rights bodies.