Context: The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment announced major progress under the NAMASTE Scheme, highlighting large-scale profiling, PPE distribution, health insurance coverage, and financial assistance for sanitation workers.
About The Namaste Scheme:
What it is?
- The National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme is a central sector scheme aimed at eliminating hazardous manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks by promoting mechanised sanitation.
- It focuses on ensuring dignity, occupational safety, and sustainable livelihoods for sanitation workers while replacing manual scavenging with technology-driven sanitation systems.
Launched By: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Aim:
- To eliminate hazardous manual cleaning practices and promote complete mechanisation of sewer and septic tank sanitation.
- To provide sanitation workers with safety, health security, financial assistance, and alternative livelihood opportunities.
Key Features:
- Worker Safety and Social Protection: Sewer and septic tank workers are profiled, validated, and provided with PPE kits, health insurance, and Ayushman card support to improve occupational safety and healthcare access.
- Financial Support through SUY: Under the Swachhata Udyami Yojana (SUY), upfront capital subsidy is provided for sanitation workers and Sanipreneurs to procure mechanised cleaning vehicles and equipment.
- Inclusion of Waste Pickers: Since June 2024, waste pickers engaged in solid waste management have also been included under the scheme, expanding the scope of social protection and formal recognition.
Significance:
- The scheme directly addresses the historic injustice of manual scavenging by ensuring dignity, legal protection, and livelihood security for sanitation workers.
- By promoting mechanised cleaning systems, NAMASTE reduces human exposure to toxic environments and supports safer urban sanitation
Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus
- GS Paper 2
- Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population
- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors
- GS Paper 3
- Inclusive growth and issues arising from it
- Science and Technology – use of technology for social welfare and public service delivery
