A major event was organised against manual scavenging in August 2009. A public hearing of young boys and girls was held at Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad on the basis of a study which found that Dalit children, mainly of the Valmiki community, are forced to do menial works such as cleaning class rooms, toilets and urinals. The public hearing was preceded by a protest rally consisting mainly of students from Vadaj to Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad against the incidence of manual scavenging It got wide response from the media, civil society groups and individuals. News links:

1. http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-i-get-paid-rs8-for-clearing-animal-carcass-from-roads-1282977

2. http://dnasyndication.com/showarticle.aspx?nid=DNAHM22572

3. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-08-18/ahmedabad/28197697_1_dalit-students-taluka-toilets