NAMASTE Strengthens Safety Dignity and Livelihood Support for Sanitation Workers

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment NAMASTE Strengthens Safety Dignity and Livelihood Support for Sanitation Workers 90186 Sewer and Septic Tank Workers Validated Across 36 States and Union Territories 251756 Waste Pickers Profiled Across 34 States and Union Territories

Posted On: 22 SEP 2026 1:39PM by PIB Delhi The National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme aims to ensure the safety and dignity of sanitation workers by creating an enabling ecosystem that recognizes their contribution to the operation and maintenance of sanitation infrastructure.

Secretary Ministry of Social Justice And Empowerment Shri Sudhansh Pant informed that under NAMASTE as on September 22, the sewer and septic tank workers component cover all 36 States and Union Territories and has validated 90,186 workers. The validated workforce comprises 86,468 men, 3,713 women and five transgender persons.

Shri Pant said over 87,008 Personal Protective Equipment kits and 753 Emergency Response Sanitation Unit safety equipment sets have been distributed among the stakeholders. He said the Ministry has undertaken 27,034 health-insurance eKYC completions, 5,449 occupational trainings and 1,841 workshops for sewer and septic tank workers.

The Secretary said under the capital-subsidy intervention for mechanization through the Swachhta Udyami Yojana, 983 beneficiaries have been supported with an amount of Rs 34.16 crore. He added that 87,037 PPE kits have been ordered to date, while 87,008 kits have been delivered.

Shri Pant said the waste-picker component has profiled 2,51,756 waste pickers across 34 States and Union Territories that includes 1,35,233 men, 1,16,498 women and 25 transgender persons.

He said the Ministry has undertaken 7,526 health-insurance eKYC completions, along with 17 training providers and 33 resource organizations supporting implementation.The Secretary said through the combined focus on profiling, occupational safety, health-insurance coverage, capacity building and mechanization, the NAMASTE Scheme is strengthening a safer and more dignified sanitation ecosystem while expanding livelihood and social-security support for sanitation workers and waste pickers.

Shri Pant noted that the scheme promotes sustainable livelihoods, capacity building, access to safety gear and mechanization through interventions implemented by the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC).

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