NAMASTE SCHEME: EMPOWERMENT OF SANITATION WORKERS
Why in news :
- The Hon’ble Minister shared information about the NAMASTE scheme.
- National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem was Launched by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
- It was launched in 2023-24 as a Central Sector Scheme with a budget allocation of 349.73 crores for the period from 2023-24 to 2025-26.
- It aimed at ensuring dignity, safety, and social-economic empowerment of sanitation workers.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
- Under the scheme, 85,819 Sewer & Septic Tank Workers have been profiled so far,
| Indicator | Number Achieved |
| Sewer & Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) Profiled | 85,819 |
| PPE Kits Distributed | 76,736 |
| Ayushman Bharat Cards Issued | 60,586 |
BROADER SIGNIFICANCE
Social Justice:
- Target Group: Sewer & septic tank workers – one of the most marginalized and stigmatized occupational groups.
- Focus on “Priority to the Deprived” – aligning with India’s inclusive growth model.
Health & Safety:
- Ayushman Bharat cards ensure healthcare access.
- PPE kits and equipment promote occupational safety, preventing deaths from hazardous cleaning.
Livelihood & Dignity:
- Profiling workers enables targeted skilling, credit access, and welfare services.
- A step toward eradicating manual scavenging, in line with constitutional and legal mandates.
WHAT IS MANUAL SCAVENGING?
- Manual scavenging refers to the manual handling and removal of human excreta from dry latrines, open drains, septic tanks, gutters, and sewers.
- In India, this practice is prohibited under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (PEMSR). The Act recognizes manual scavenging as a “dehumanizing practice” and aims to correct the systemic and historical injustices faced by those engaged in it.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES RELATED TO MANUAL SCAVENGING
Several initiatives have been launched to eliminate manual scavenging and support the rehabilitation of those previously engaged in it:
- Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SESRM)
- National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC)
- Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan
- Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0
- Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM)
These programs aim to provide financial support, alternative employment opportunities, skill development, and dignity to former manual scavengers.
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