United Nations Radio

They've come from a life of having to manually clean human waste from open-air toilets to being honoured with a song written about their struggles. They were resigned to suffer unspeakable indignities as low-caste untouchables but recently, they shared the catwalk with some of the world's most beautiful models at a United Nations ceremony honouring their achievements. They are a group of former scavengers, low-caste Indian women who, until four years ago, were destined to follow their ancestors in the mind-numbing practice of disposing of human excreta. But Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak(photo) had an idea.

Produced by Gerry Adams.

(duration: 4'43")