This book is based on an extensive survey of the practice of manual scavenging in Andhra Pradesh, and the movement to eradicate this by the Safai Karmachari Andolan. It holds out a mirror to our social attitudes and we realize that an activity which can easily be abolished through use of technology, resources and training still continues primarily because of our unconcern. \n \nGita Ramaswamy is a publisher- trustee of the Hyderabad Book Trust.