An Indian online food delivery service named Zomato withdrew its advertisement on recycling trash, following complaints over how it depicted a Dalit&nbsp;character.&nbsp;Dalits, formerly&nbsp;referred to as "untouchables",&nbsp;are a historically underprivileged population in the country.&nbsp;

The character&nbsp;appeared as recycled rubbish in a Zomato commercial for World Environment Day.

The company took down the video, saying it had "unintentionally" hurt some&nbsp;communities.&nbsp;The ad featured actor Aditya Lakhia, who famously played a character called Kachra in the 2001 Bollywood film Lagaan, reported the BBC.

The movie, which features Aamir Khan, is about peasants who challenge their British overlords to a game of cricket in order to avoid paying a harsh tax. The movie received an Oscar nomination, and Time magazine named it one of the top 25 sports films ever made.

The character of Kachra, who in Hindi means "garbage",&nbsp;is shown in the movie as being crippled and rejected by his fellow villagers until he is chosen to play for the squad. He ultimately plays a crucial part in helping his side pull off an unexpected victory.

The figure in Zomato's advertisement played with goods manufactured from recycled garbage, including a lamp, table, paper, and watering can, in an effort to highlight the company's voluntary waste recycling.

Also watch |&nbsp;Byju's to cut jobs, sales, and marketing teams to face the heat

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Zomato was condemned for airing a "repulsive" ad by Bollywood director Neeraj Ghaywan.

In a tweet, he criticised "Kachra from Lagaan," calling it "one of the most dehumanised voiceless depictions of Dalits ever in cinema".

Development expert Radha Khan stated in The Indian Express that "using a character who is a Dalit and showing him to be made from actual waste is extremely problematic and insensitive".

"To depict a person as being recycled trash 'rescued'&nbsp;from the dung heap to be used as utility 'objects'&nbsp;dehumanises him. It shows how corporate boardrooms and ad agencies have no diversity in their staff and are clearly completely dominated by upper castes who have little or no understanding of how to perceive and depict those who are from marginalised and socially-ostracised groups." Khan said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mumbai-murder-man-accused-of-brutally-killing-partner-claims-to-be-hiv-police-reveals-the-two-were-married-602619">Mumbai Murder: Man accused of brutally killing partner claims to be HIV+, police reveals the two were married</a>

<h2>Calls to boycott Zomato</h2>

On Friday, social media users called for a&nbsp;boycott of the company.&nbsp;Zomato tried a play on the word "kachra",&nbsp;according to communications strategist Karthik Srinivasan, but failed to consider how it would appear to have the figure execute "seemingly dehumanising and menial tasks", reported the BBC.

The advertisement has been removed from all of Zomato's social media platforms.

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An Indian online food delivery service named Zomato withdrew its advertisement on recycling trash, following complaints over how it depicted a Dalit character. Dalits, formerly referred to as "untouchables", are a historically underprivileged population in the country.

An Indian online food delivery service named Zomato withdrew its advertisement on recycling trash, following complaints over how it depicted a Dalit character. Dalits, formerly referred to as "untouchables", are a historically underprivileged population in the country. The character appeared as recycled rubbish in a Zomato commercial for World Environment Day. The company took down the video, saying it had "unintentionally" hurt some communities. The ad featured actor Aditya Lakhia, who famously played a character called Kachra in the 2001 Bollywood film Lagaan, reported the BBC. The movie, which features Aamir Khan, is about peasants who challenge their British overlords to a game of cricket in order to avoid paying a harsh tax. The movie received an Oscar nomination, and Time magazine named it one of the top 25 sports films ever made. The character of Kachra, who in Hindi means "garbage", is shown in the movie as being crippled and rejected by his fellow villagers until he is chosen to play for the squad. He ultimately plays a crucial part in helping his side pull off an unexpected victory. The figure in Zomato's advertisement played with goods manufactured from recycled garbage, including a lamp, table, paper, and watering can, in an effort to highlight the company's voluntary waste recycling. Also watch | Byju's to cut jobs, sales, and marketing teams to face the heat Zomato was condemned for airing a "repulsive" ad by Bollywood director Neeraj Ghaywan. In a tweet, he criticised "Kachra from Lagaan," calling it "one of the most dehumanised voiceless depictions of Dalits ever in cinema". Development expert Radha Khan stated in The Indian Express that "using a character who is a Dalit and showing him to be made from actual waste is extremely problematic and insensitive". "To depict a person as being recycled trash 'rescued' from the dung heap to be used as utility 'objects' dehumanises him. It shows how corporate boardrooms and ad agencies have no diversity in their staff and are clearly completely dominated by upper castes who have little or no understanding of how to perceive and depict those who are from marginalised and socially-ostracised groups." Khan said. Also read | Mumbai Murder: Man accused of brutally killing partner claims to be HIV+, police reveals the two were married Calls to boycott Zomato On Friday, social media users called for a boycott of the company. Zomato tried a play on the word "kachra", according to communications strategist Karthik Srinivasan, but failed to consider how it would appear to have the figure execute "seemingly dehumanising and menial tasks", reported the BBC. The advertisement has been removed from all of Zomato's social media platforms. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India: Zomato takes down 'Kachra' campaign video after major backlash

Usha Chaumar is a sanitation activist&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/dalit-outfits-call-for-bharat-bandh%2C-life-disrupted-across-north-india-127905">dalit </a>social worker from Alwar, Rajasthan who has won the <a href="wionews.com/india-news/padma-shree-award-winners-full-list-192818">Padma Shri</a> award this year.

But a little known fact about her is that she used to work as a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/sewer-deaths-are-unacceptable-167757">manual scavenger</a> in the past.

She&nbsp;has faced&nbsp;discrimination and was&nbsp;marginalized from society due to being an '<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/dr-bhimrao-ambedkar-a-true-fighter-against-caste-discrimination-in-india-130372">untouchable</a>'.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/padma-shree-award-winners-full-list-192818">Padma Shri award winners: Full list</a>

However, instead of getting demotivated and depressed due to the atrocities and adversities she faced, she decided to do something for the people who suffered from all of these things.

Her journey from a manual scavenger to a Padma Shri&nbsp;awardee is awe-inspiring.

Despite facing several ups and downs in her life, it was&nbsp;her dedication and determination to do something for the welfare of the dalit community and for the improvement of the sanitation conditions in the society that&nbsp;she emerged as a winner.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/padma-awards-2020-announced-padma-vibhushan-to-7-veterans-padma-bhushan-to-16-padma-shri-to-118-276566/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

After winning one of the country's fourth-highest civilian award, she said, "There is a drastic change in my life. Earlier, I used to work as a manual scavenger.

It was Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International, who helped me in coming out of that work."

She now works as the President of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bihar-to-get-worlds-cheapest-clean-drinking-water-151754">Sulabh International Social Service Organisation,</a> has been honoured for her outstanding service in social work.

Talking about her journey, she says, "I never thought that I would ever be able to leave the work of manual scavenging, but Dr Pathak made that happen for me. I left manual scavenging in 2003".

"I met Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-pays-tribute-to-fallen-soldiers-at-national-war-memorial-on-republic-day-276585">Narendra Modi</a> four times and I have also tied Rakhee to him. He is the one who has time and again raised awareness on the issue of cleanliness,'' she also said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-pays-tribute-to-fallen-soldiers-at-national-war-memorial-on-republic-day-276585">PM Modi pays tribute to fallen soldiers at National War Memorial on Republic Day&nbsp;</a>

She now raises awareness against manual scavenging.

When asked what message she wants to give to other women, Chaumar said, "No one should do the work of manual scavenging, because it leads to untouchability and those who do this job are looked down by society."

"My family members are very happy with the award and they say that I have made entire Alwar proud," she added.

Usha Chaumar is a sanitation activist and dalit social worker from Alwar, Rajasthan who has won the Padma Shri award this year. But a little known fact about her is that she used to work as a manual scavenger in the past.

Usha Chaumar is a sanitation activist and dalit social worker from Alwar, Rajasthan who has won the Padma Shri award this year. But a little known fact about her is that she used to work as a manual scavenger in the past. She has faced discrimination and was marginalized from society due to being an 'untouchable'. Also read: Padma Shri award winners: Full list However, instead of getting demotivated and depressed due to the atrocities and adversities she faced, she decided to do something for the people who suffered from all of these things. Her journey from a manual scavenger to a Padma Shri awardee is awe-inspiring. Despite facing several ups and downs in her life, it was her dedication and determination to do something for the welfare of the dalit community and for the improvement of the sanitation conditions in the society that she emerged as a winner. After winning one of the country's fourth-highest civilian award, she said, "There is a drastic change in my life. Earlier, I used to work as a manual scavenger. It was Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International, who helped me in coming out of that work." She now works as the President of Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, has been honoured for her outstanding service in social work. Talking about her journey, she says, "I never thought that I would ever be able to leave the work of manual scavenging, but Dr Pathak made that happen for me. I left manual scavenging in 2003". "I met Prime Minister Narendra Modi four times and I have also tied Rakhee to him. He is the one who has time and again raised awareness on the issue of cleanliness,'' she also said. Also read: PM Modi pays tribute to fallen soldiers at National War Memorial on Republic Day She now raises awareness against manual scavenging. When asked what message she wants to give to other women, Chaumar said, "No one should do the work of manual scavenging, because it leads to untouchability and those who do this job are looked down by society." "My family members are very happy with the award and they say that I have made entire Alwar proud," she added.

Inspirational journey of Usha Chaumar from manual scavenger to Padma Shri awardee

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