SRM School of Law observes Social Justice Day
On the occasion of Social Justice Day in Tamil Nadu, the Centre for Human Rights Studies and the Centre for Social Justice at the SRM School of Law hosted a Distinguished Public Lecture on "Ending Manual Scavenging and Caste Discrimination."
Ramon Magsaysay Award Laureate and National Convenor of Safai Karamchari Andolan (SKA), Mr. Bezwada Wilson, delivered a stirring address to students, faculty, and legal scholars, hosted in the presence of Prof. (Dr.) Y.S.R. Murthy, Pro Vice Chancellor (Law), SRMIST.
Highlighting the institution's commitment to social justice, Prof. (Dr.) Y.S.R. Murthy emphasized the critical role of legal education in confronting social inequities: "Hosting Mr. Bezwada Wilson on the Social Justice Day serves as a vital reminder of our collective responsibility as legal scholars and practitioners”.
Aligning his address with the ethos of Social Justice Day, Mr. Wilson challenged the audience to look beyond technological milestones and confront deep-seated social inequities. He drew a sharp distinction between general sanitation work and manual scavenging, calling the latter a horrific system enforced by caste and patriarchy under the guise of employment.
Bezwada Wilson said "How can a society ask one human being to clean another's excreta, pay them a pittance, label them an employee, and act as if nothing is wrong? In our society, there is a direct link between slavery and livelihood; if you refuse slavery, you lose your livelihood."
During his lecture, Mr. Wilson recounted his upbringing in the township of Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), dispelling romanticized media depictions to highlight the historical exploitation of marginalized Dalit laborers. Recalling the moment, he realized the nature of manual scavenging at age 15, he reflected on the tragedy of societal normalization and administrative denial.
Reflecting on SKA’s 40-year movement and its landmark 2003 Supreme Court litigation, Mr. Wilson criticized bureaucratic apathy, pointing out that manual scavenging still persists across 46 districts in India due to systemic refusal to admit the problem.
Directly addressing the law students, Mr. Wilson urged future legal professionals and advocates to develop a strong moral compass and hold power accountable.
The event concluded with an interactive Q&A session coordinated by faculty leads Ms. R. Dhivya and Dr. Sreelatha, reinforcing SRMIST's commitment to fostering rights-based legal education and social advocacy.
