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22 views2 pages

Blog 1 D6-3

Uploaded by

sanath.genmarketing
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ENDING THE PRACTICE OF MANUAL SCAVENGING USING TECHNOLOGY:

HOW BANDICOOT ROBOT IS MAKING ITS IMPACT IN MANHOLE


CLEANING

Introduction

Manual Scavenging is known to be the most hazardous as well as the worst job in the whole
world. Manual Scavenging is basically the practice of physically entering into the manholes and
cleaning the hazardous waste inside it, using bare hands and basic cleaning tools. Despite
being banned in India, thousands of workers still do this work, facing severe health risks and the
constant threat of injury. Sadly, most of these workers belong to financially struggling
communities, forced into a life where they face toxic gases, deadly diseases, and life-
threatening accidents. Studies show that one Manual Scavenger dies every five days, and this
happens due to the presence of deadly gases and other toxic conditions present inside
manholes. The people who survive often suffer from stigmatization and deadly diseases like
bronchitis, asthma, skin and fungal infections, due to the exposure to harmful pathogens that
has become a part of their daily life. The reason why the problem of Manual Scavenging still
exists, is because no other safer solution exists. However, now there’s a new and safe way to
end this sorrowful practice, using technology.

The Bandicoot Way: A Complete Solution For Manhole Cleaning

The Bandicoot robot is designed with the goal of providing safe working for the sanitation
workers without losing their jobs. This was achieved by bringing in certain features like gas
detecting sensors, night vision cameras, etc., in the robot. The gas detecting sensors of
Bandicoot detect and notify the presence of any kind of hazardous gases like carbon monoxide,
ammonia, hydrogen sulfide etc. inside the manhole. These sensors help to avoid unwanted
accidents and deadly situations where workers get unconscious due to the inhalation of these
toxic gases. The robot's night vision cameras allow for an effective and precise cleaning
procedure. Bandicoot is developed with a very simple user interface and training assistance for
better user experience and easy rehabilitation of sanitation workers, making it easier for anyone
to operate it without having any complications, be it a well educated or a person who has no
technical experience.

Why Bandicoot Matters: A Future Without Manual Scavenging

Before Bandicoot, men had to physically go down into the manholes to clean them. Even though
highly efficient and accurate cleaning was possible, there was no safety for the sanitation
workers during this process. So, the use of jetting and sucking machines became prevalent. But
as there are different kinds of issues inside the manholes, like removal of flatbergs and hard
debris, which jetting and sucking machines can’t fulfill completely, men still had to enter the
manholes to clean these types of wastes. And it’s true that to solve these issues with high
precision, human-like flexibility and accuracy is needed. Inorder to address this problem of
human intervention and at the same time to give human like precision, Bandicoot robot was
developed using robotics.

Bandicoot robot cleans manholes without any human stepping inside. With its human-like
capabilities, i.e., extendable legs and arms, it dives into the manholes, scoops up the waste
from all the areas, and collects the waste in an integrated bucket system, thereby providing
precision and safety in cleaning. The extendable legs provide stability inside the manholes and
the arms performs actions like grabbing, picking and shoveling of wastes inside the manholes.
These features of Bandicoot outsmarts any kind of traditional methods of cleaning like normal
jetting and sucking machines which lacks the kind of stability and precision Bandicoot provides.
Moreover, traditional methods lack certain safety precautions that Bandicoot have, like gas
detecting sensors.

In addition to cleaning, through the rehabilitation programs being provided, 3000+ sanitation
workers have already been rehabilitated and transformed into Bandicoot robot operators,
thereby providing them with a dignified life. Bandicoot brings hope for a future where no one has
to endure these risks and where sanitation workers can work safely with dignity.

Conclusion

There is far more to go inorder to reach the idea of an era without manual scavenging. With
more towns utilizing this technology, around 200 Bandicoot robots are now deployed across 19
States and 3 Union Territories in India. This was possible because of the strong support from
Government and civilians. If this kind of continuous support is being provided, more Bandicoot
robots can be deployed in the future, thereby achieving the goal of ‘Zero Manual Scavenging
India’. In addition to providing a technological solution, the Bandicoot robot upholds a moral duty
to safeguard individuals whose lives have been exposed to danger for an excessive amount of
time.

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