NAMASTE Scheme: Ensuring Safety and Dignity of Sanitation Workers

The NAMASTE Scheme, a joint initiative by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, aims to eliminate manual engagement of sanitation workers in hazardous sewer and septic tank cleaning operations. Implemented by the NSKFDC for three years, the scheme prioritizes the safety and well-being of workers with a budget of 349.73 crores.

Background

The National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem or the NAMASTE Scheme is a response to the vital role sanitation workers play in maintaining community health and hygiene, especially after the Swachh Bharat Mission. The scheme aims to formalize and skill these workers, eliminate fatalities in sanitation work, and empower them through entrepreneurship and access to alternate livelihoods.

Components of the Scheme

1. Profiling of Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs):

• • Creation of a national database with unique NAMASTE IDs for all SSWs.
  • Online training conducted for ULB Nodal Officers and surveyors on profiling process.
  • State-level training sessions held for resolving technical queries.
  • Collection of sanitation profile data from ULBs through online forms.

2. Health Insurance and Occupational Safety Training:

• • • Enrollment of SSWs under PM-JAY for health insurance coverage.
    • Provision of occupational safety training to enhance worker safety.
    • Establishment of Sanitation Response Units (SRUs) for emergency situations.

3. Capital Subsidy and Equipment Distribution:

• • • • Capital subsidy up to Rs. 5.00 lakh for procurement of sanitation-related vehicles/equipment.
      • Distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to SSWs.
      • Provision of safety devices to Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs).

4. IEC Campaign and Capacity Building:

• • • • • Conducting Information Education Communication (IEC) campaigns for SSW safety and dignity awareness.
        • Capacity building of ULB Nodal Officers and surveyors on profiling process and NAMASTE Mobile Application.

Training Initiatives

Training of Trainers on NAMASTE Mobile Application:

• • Conducted in multiple states to ensure clear understanding of the app and scheme in regional languages.
  • Combination of physical and online training sessions for effective dissemination.

Current Progress

Profiling Camps for SSWs:

• • Profiling initiated in 28 states with IEC campaigns to raise awareness.
  • 28,732 SSWs surveyed with 21,760 validated as of March 6, 2024.