Preventing from Entering, Rather than Protection
When the manual scavengers enter manholes they are exposed to human excreta and other wastes, bringing them in direct contact with an abundance of pathogens. However, the major cause for their deaths is the toxic gases that they inhale inside septic tanks, manholes and sewer lines. These are more often than not fatal since they suffocate inside the sewer. Thus, it is not enough to just prevent the direct contact of the manual scavenger with the waste, but it is essential for the worker to be able to clear blockages without entering the sewer in the first place.
Poverty, unemployment and social discrimination are the key reasons why manual scavengers continue to do what they do, despite knowing the danger it pose to them. Finding alternate modes of employment to these people doesn't seem to help in eradicating this practice, as there are always other people waiting to replace the person on his job.
A very informative and useful set of discussion with Divas Vatsa of the Safai Karmachari Aandolan made me realise that provision of safety equipment would not be the complete solution to the problem, as it is a compromise that one may be making: where the true goal is to prevent the person from entering the manhole in the first place.
The Solution
Hence, Svaadar was born out of the sole goal of empowering these people with an easy to use, versatile, portable and low cost machine, which the manual scavengers would want to use. Something that will make them feel and realise that they can surely do the job without endangering their lives.