NAMASTE Scheme

Why in News?
The Union Budget for 2023-24 allocated nearly ₹100 crore to the National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) initiative. The government aims to achieve 100% mechanical cleaning of sewers and septic tanks across all urban areas in India. Efforts are underway to extend the scheme to every Urban Local Body (ULB) in the country.

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What is the NAMASTE Scheme?
Overview: Launched in 2022, NAMASTE is a Central Sector Scheme jointly implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE). Its primary goal is to eliminate unsafe manual cleaning practices for sewers and septic tanks, ensuring the safety and dignity of sanitation workers.

Key Objectives:

• Zero Fatalities: Ensure no deaths occur during sanitation work.
• Skilled Workforce: Train all sanitation workers to perform their tasks safely and professionally.
• Avoid Direct Contact: Prevent sanitation workers from coming into contact with human waste.
• Empowered Workers: Organize sanitation workers into Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to manage sanitation businesses.
• Robust Oversight: Strengthen monitoring and enforcement mechanisms at the national, state, and local levels to ensure safe sanitation practices.
• Awareness Creation: Educate individuals and institutions to hire only skilled and registered sanitation workers.

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Key Features of the Scheme:

1. Worker Identification:
   • Comprehensive mapping and identification of all sewer and septic tank workers (SSWs).
2. Skill Development and Safety:
   • Provide occupational training and distribute Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits to SSWs.
3. Safety Equipment for Response Units:
   • Assist Sanitation Response Units (SRUs) with essential safety devices and technology.
4. Health Coverage:
   • Extend health insurance under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to identified sanitation workers and their families.
5. Livelihood Support:
   • Promote mechanization and entrepreneurship by offering financial aid and subsidies for procuring sanitation equipment.
6. Public Awareness Campaigns:
   • Conduct widespread Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaigns, led by ULBs and the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC), to raise awareness about NAMASTE and its benefits.

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The NAMASTE scheme reflects the government's commitment to ensuring the dignity, safety, and livelihood of sanitation workers while advancing mechanized solutions for urban sanitation.

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