Tech News: Robot May End the Untouchable Duty of Sewer Cleaning
In this article I will discuss a very serious issue that may find some closure. I'm referring to the caste system of India and the responsibilities it places on different castes, specifically a caste that isn't even considered to be a caste.
Not respected enough to even have a place in the heirarchy, I'm talking about the duties of India's 'untouchables' and their responsibility in cleaning the sewers of India.
In short, the Bandicoot robot is designed by a group of young entrepreneur engineers. It is claimed that the robot can do the grim job of cleaning sewers much more quickly than human workers.
An end may be in sight to the sickening practice in India of sending low caste people into sewers to unblock drains that are clogged up with feces. A group of entrepreneurial engineering students from the southern state of Kerala are developing a robot to do the grim job instead, hindustantimes.com reported. It says that the Kerala Water Authority has already placed orders for 50 robots, which are known as Bandicoots.
This is a real relief and although it's regretable that a robot like this wasn't created a long time ago, at least the Bandicoot is due to arrive and ease suffering as it will take over this ugly activity.
The start-up claims the Bandicoot is the technical solution to end this 'depraved social malaise'. Genrobotics says it has big plans to go global, but only after fixing one the country's most depressing and most nagging problems. Mechanical engineer Vimal Govind, 24, the CEO of Genrobotics told the Hindustan Times that he has put the project together in collaboration with nine classmates at the MES Engineering College in Kuttipuram.
I've spent a lot of time studying the ancient Hindu caste system and have even tried to explain its roots to friends. There are huge ethical dilemmas in my mind about this system yet it is firmly a part of Indian culture and as such becomes much harder to debate from the standpoint that it is ethically or morally wrong.
The fact that these students have taken the first step in designing a robot that can make strides to change the system is very cool. I was extremely impressed to hear about this new robot and their mission to end 'depraved social malaise.'
A few more things readers should know, when the group initially tried to find financial backing for the project, they found very little interest. Fortunately, they were able to get some good press and now they say that investors are heavily supporting this project and money is flowing in from many different sources.
The manufacturing cost of the machine is about $5,000. It weighs 176 pounds but the main operating part that goes into the sewage hole is much lighter. A wire-carrying camera goes inside the sewage hole and beams pictures of the problem to a screen on the surface. The robot then dismantles itself from the main machine and goes into the hole with tools such as a shovel or a jet pipe to clean the system. The scientists claim their robot can manage three workers' three-hour schedule in 30 minutes.
Now, if more efforts can be made in regard to changing culture around the caste system and investing in the education and infrastructure of poorer members of society, progress will really start to snowball!
What are your thoughts on this topic and article? Do you see this new robot doing a world of good in India?
Please leave your thoughts and feedback below!
Source:
Sewer-cleaning robot may finally end ‘horrendous’ practice of sending poor labourers to clear the drains under Indian cities by hand - Daily Mail
Image Source:
Daily Mail
It's really appreciative that finally in India, they are thinking of mechanising the periodic cleaning of sewers. Govt. should develop these robots on larger scale.
In 2017—India’s sewage system has killed 90 people. By contrast, 54 security personnel died combating militants in Jammu and Kashmir. More Indians die cleaning sewers than fighting terrorists in Kashmir :( Deaths in the sewage system is palpably underestimated. No bunny suites, no masks, no oxygen cylinders, the workers work in horrible conditions.
The value of 5000 USD will be an obstacle for the implementation of this robot to substitute traditional labour force. It is not very high for high income economies but workers in India and especially the dalit do the same work for much less. Another question is who would invest in this technology on a larger scale? Public agencies who would then question the importance of traditional hierarchies in the Indian society? I think this whole issue is much more complex.
You have made some good points here. These are thoughts that also crossed my mind. But, progress takes time, certainly the fact that this technology exists is better than it not existing. Getting rid of the stigma of the untouchable class is a much larger challenge. It is a very complex issue!
Right, these changes need time. And technology can help in some cases. Maybe in 5-10 years there will be an opportunity to manufacture robots like that for 100 USD or even less. (Although the value of this object is just one detail among many others in the whole game.)
Definitely regrettable something like this wasn't implemented sooner. I'd be curious to see the design concept, seems like something that could have wide ranging applications.
Ireally agree with the presence of the robot. Indeed, economic and educational issues are the reason many workers are risking their lives only for such hazardous work. Starting from the problem of skin diseases, animal attacks creeping, until out of breath.
In addition, with the technology is able to raise human rights and work levels to a better degree.
Hey, great post! We have featured your article in our weekly newsletter! Keep up the good work, and let us know if you have any concerns.
Join us on the science-trail Discord
I am agree with the creation of robots, but always the money is more important than people in many places. hopeful the creation and implantation of the robots be very very soon.