**Executive Summary**
The National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme, launched in FY 2023–24, aims to eliminate hazardous manual cleaning by ensuring the dignity, safety, and economic empowerment of sanitation workers. Key developments include the inclusion of waste pickers since June 2024 and significant increases in capital subsidies for mechanization projects during the 2025–26 period. The scheme focuses on worker profiling, providing safety gear, and offering financial incentives for the procurement of mechanised cleaning equipment.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Worker Profiling and Validation**
* A total of 90,942 sewer and septic tank workers have been profiled, with 89,248 successfully validated.
* The scheme has expanded to include 3,78,547 waste pickers, of whom 2,52,163 have been validated via e-KYC.
**Health and Safety Provisions**
* Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits have been provided to 87,037 sewer/septic tank workers and 1,31,864 waste pickers.
* Health insurance coverage has been extended to 76,247 workers, and data for 1,24,835 waste pickers has been processed for Ayushman Cards.
* 1,562 workshops have been conducted nationwide to educate workers on preventing hazardous cleaning practices.
**Financial Subsidies and Mechanization**
* **Swachhata Udyami Yojana (SUY) Enhancements:** The subsidy ceiling for individual projects increased from ₹5.00 lakh to ₹7.50 lakh, while group project ceilings (up to five members) rose from ₹18.75 lakh to ₹25.00 lakh.
* **Private Sector Support:** A new 25% upfront capital subsidy is available to Private Sanitation Service Organisations (PSSOs) and private contractors for the procurement of mechanised cleaning equipment.
* **Capital Disbursement:** ₹34.17 crore has been released to 983 workers for vehicle procurement, and ₹14.84 crore has been released to 320 "Sanipreneurs" for mechanised equipment.
**Infrastructure Development**
* 753 safety devices have been dispatched to Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs) established in larger municipal corporations and districts to strengthen safety infrastructure.
**Impact Analysis**
**Sewer and Septic Tank Workers**
**Impact**
They benefit from a shift away from hazardous manual cleaning toward mechanised practices, supported by PPE kits, health insurance, and financial assistance for vehicle ownership.
**Action Required**
Workers must participate in profiling and validation processes and attend safety workshops on mechanised cleaning.
**Waste Pickers**
**Impact**
Now included as a target group, they receive formal recognition through profiling, access to protective gear, and integration into the Ayushman Bharat healthcare framework.
**Action Required**
Waste pickers must complete e-KYC validation to access scheme benefits.
**Private Sanitation Service Organisations (PSSOs) and Contractors**
**Impact**
They are incentivized to modernize operations through a new 25% capital subsidy for mechanised equipment, facilitating a transition to safer cleaning methods.
**Action Required**
Interested organizations must apply for capital subsidies to procure and deploy mechanised cleaning equipment and vehicles.
**Municipal Corporations and Districts**
**Impact**
These bodies receive safety devices and support for establishing ERSUs, enhancing their capacity to respond to sanitation emergencies safely.
**Action Required**
Local authorities must ensure the proper establishment of ERSUs and the effective deployment of dispatched safety devices.
Key Entities Referenced
National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme: The central initiative aimed at ensuring the dignity, safety, and economic empowerment of sanitation workers by eliminating hazardous manual cleaning practices.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment: The primary Union Ministry responsible for the implementation and oversight of the NAMASTE scheme.
Swachhata Udyami Yojana (SUY): A linked scheme providing upfront capital subsidies for sanitation projects to support mechanised cleaning and entrepreneurship among workers.
Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs): Specialized safety infrastructure units established in municipal corporations and districts to handle sanitation emergencies.
Dr Virendra Kumar: The Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment who oversees the scheme's progress and policy enhancements.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Empowering Lives: NAMASTE Scheme Delivers
Tangible Change for Sanitation Workers
Posted On: 23 APR 2026 8:58PM by PIB Delhi
The National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme has marked a significant
milestone in advancing dignity, safety and sustainable livelihoods for sanitation workers across the
country. Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr Virendra Kumar has said that the scheme
reflects the Government’s strong commitment to ensuring dignity, safety and economic empowerment for
sanitation workers. Since its launch in FY 2023–24, the initiative has demonstrated measurable impact
through targeted interventions, community engagement and a focused approach to eliminate hazardous
manual cleaning practices.
A total of 90,942 sewer and septic tank workers have been profiled, of which 89,248 have been validated.
As many as 87,037 workers have been provided with PPE kits, while 76,247 have been covered under
various health insurance schemes. An upfront capital subsidy of ₹34.17 crore has been released to 983
sanitation workers for procurement of 364 vehicles. Additionally, 1,562 workshops on prevention of
hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks have been conducted across the country. To further
strengthen safety infrastructure, 753 safety devices have been dispatched to Emergency Response
Sanitation Units (ERSUs) established in larger municipal corporations and districts.
Since June 2024, waste pickers engaged in solid waste management have also been included as a target
group under the scheme in both urban and rural areas. A total of 3,78,547 waste pickers have been
profiled, of which 2,52,163 have been validated through e-KYC. Around 1,31,864 waste pickers have
received PPE kits, and data of 1,24,835 waste pickers has been processed for generation of Ayushman
Cards.
During 2025–26, key enhancements have been made under the scheme. The ceiling for upfront capital
subsidy under the Swachhata Udyami Yojana (SUY) has been increased from ₹5.00 lakh to ₹7.50 lakh for
individual projects and from ₹18.75 lakh to ₹25.00 lakh for group projects (up to five beneficiaries). A
new component has also been introduced to provide upfront capital subsidy of 25% of the project cost to
Private Sanitation Service Organisations (PSSOs) and private contractors for procurement and deployment
of mechanised cleaning equipment and vehicles. As a result, ₹14.84 crore has been released as upfront
capital subsidy for 320 beneficiaries (Sanipreneurs), an increase from 250 beneficiaries in the previous
financial year.
The NAMASTE Scheme represents a paradigm shift—it is not merely a welfare initiative but a
transformative social reform movement. By integrating technological innovation with a rights-based
approach, it is paving the way for an India where sanitation workers can live and work with dignity,
security and independence.
***
Siraj/AJ(Release ID: 2255017) Visitor Counter : 251
Read this release in: ही