India, July 1 -- Several government departments continue to maintain silence onplight of manual scavengers, despite an array of schemes for them

During a ground survey on sanitation status in Bihar's Bhagalpur one Saturday, we stumbled upon a filthy place where pigs were being slaughtered. That was when we met Raja.

Raja is a manual scavenger - called a dome - but he also runs a meat shop. His regular morning routine includes performing household chores (when forced by his mother and two sisters), visiting houses to collect maal or faecal matter / faecal sludge and later managing his shop.

He is not alone; hundreds like him from his community are confined to this occupation considered too 'lowly'.

But Raja didn't seem unhappy. His fam...