Manual scavenging as a way of earning livelihood is problematic in many aspects. It is at the same time also inundated with myriad misfortunes. Although, the deaths in the man holes or sewer pits do not make it to official records as deaths because of manual scavenging, it must be a deep concern for many good samaritans because it affects a significant chunk of the society who are still forced to do this job because of no other alternative or delayed relief (one time payment). In some cases, after a person has ceased to do the work under review, the pecuniary benefit is received after years, not even months. It is a travesty of the social upliftment and the so called eradication of this ghoulish practice must be thoroughly scrutinized. This paper attempts to delve into the intricacies that deeply influence the lives of individuals. It is also observed that people who are engaged in the aforementioned task pray before beginning their work, but in reality they should be raising their concerns to the relevant authority and the common practice of checking the possibility of toxic gas by doing a candle-test must remind them that they are just like the candle, wherein the bright flame symbolizes their life and it’s just moments before they might experience sheer darkness. By understanding these dynamics, this research seeks to contribute to the discourse on how to break the cycle of disadvantage, advocating for a more holistic approach that combines legislative reform with cultural shifts towards acceptance and integration. This not only addresses the immediate needs of these communities but also aims at long-term societal transformation where education becomes a genuine pathway out of manual scavenging for future generations.