National Workshop on “Mission Zero – Ending Fatalities in Sanitation Work”

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment organized a National Workshop on “Mission Zero – Ending Fatalities in Sanitation Work” in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The workshop focused on strengthening institutional mechanisms, promoting appropriate technologies, and scaling up mechanized sanitation services across Indian cities to achieve zero fatalities. Senior officials emphasized a whole-of-government approach and highlighted the implementation of schemes like NAMASTE and GARIMA to ensure occupational safety, health, education, and livelihood opportunities for sanitation workers and their dependents. The event also highlighted the extension of NAMASTE up to 2031, Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs), and the inclusion of waste pickers through the Swachhata Sarthi component introduced in 2024.