Most Christians would like to sing the chorus ‘Walk, Walk, Walk, Walk in the light, Walking in the light of God’, on any Sunday worship as part of praise and thanksgiving. The National Council of Churches in India, on Sunday the 14th February 2010 along with its friends, had its devotion and prayer on the street and participated in a Walkathon at 6.30 am, with a message ‘Eliminate Manual Scavenging by 2010’ organized by the Rotary Club of Nagpur. Thousands of people participated in this Walkathon in high spirits and enthusiasm.

Rev. Asir Ebenezar, Officiating General Secretary of NCCI in his devotion before the Walkathon emphasized the journeys in the Bible, for every journey had a challenge and direction for change and transformation, and therefore exhorted that this journey to eliminate manual scavenging by 2010 is destined for a change in our society. This Walkathon gave the space and opportunity to spread across the message about the obnoxious practice that has been forced on Dalits in the form of manual scavenging. Blue ribbons with a message ‘Eliminate Manual Scavenging by 2010’ were tied around the caps of the participants. The message caught the attention of the other co-participants and the media that were present over there. This Walkathon helped to create awareness about manual scavenging to the civil society present over there and many young people expressed their commitment in joining this Campaign to ‘eliminate manual scavenging by 2010’. Banners containing the message ‘eliminate scavenging by 2010’ were put across the streets in this Walkathon which provided an opportunity for the public to know about this evil practice. Many expressed their surprise to know that such a practice still exists in India and many did not even know what was manual scavenging. When the rest of the participants walked for Life and Health, we as NCCI walked against life denying forces like manual scavenging. Dr. Mar Atsongchanger, Fr. Vineeth Koshy, Mr. Rajesh Jadhav, Mr. Sanjay Wankhede, Ms. Sagarika Chetty, Mr. Tinumeren, Mr. Jose Kurian and several others participated in this Walkathon.

Thanks to all the participants who participated in this Walk to spread the message  ‘eliminate manual scavenging by 2010’. Mr. Bezawada Wilson, National Co-ordinator of Safai Karamchari Andholan (SKA), expressed his happiness for this venture in the city of Nagpur.

Let us together eliminate manual scavenging by 2010 and let us give equality and dignity of life to all.

Rev. Raj Bharath Patta
Executive Secretary, Commission on Dalits
National Council of Churches in India