NAMASTE Strengthens Safety Dignity and Livelihood Support for Sanitation Workers

The National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme, implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment through the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC), aims to ensure safety, dignity, and livelihood support for sanitation workers and waste pickers. As of September 22, the scheme has validated 90,186 sewer and septic tank workers across 36 States and Union Territories, and profiled 2,51,756 waste pickers across 34 States and Union Territories. Interventions include the distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits and safety equipment sets, health-insurance eKYC completions, occupational trainings, workshops, and capital-subsidy support for mechanization via the Swachhta Udyami Yojana.