Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on 22nd August 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment organized a National Workshop on "Mission Zero – Ending Fatalities in Sanitation Work" in Bhubaneswar on August 22, 2026. The event aimed to strengthen institutional mechanisms and scale up mechanized sanitation services to achieve zero fatalities through a "whole-of-government" approach. Key focus areas included the implementation of the NAMASTE and GARIMA schemes to ensure the safety, dignity, and livelihood of sanitation workers and their dependents.
Key Points / Main Content
Mission Zero and National Priority
Achieving zero fatalities in sanitation work is a core national priority focused on safety, systematic delivery, and dignity.
The "Mission Zero" approach seeks to eliminate hazardous manual sanitation practices through mechanization and institutional preparedness.
Schemes and Initiatives
NAMASTE Scheme: Implementation is led by the National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC) as the nodal agency to ensure occupational safety and mechanization.
GARIMA Scheme: Designed to promote mechanization while providing health, education, and livelihood opportunities for workers and their families.
Operational and Technical Objectives
Strengthening institutional mechanisms to support a technology-driven sanitation ecosystem.
Promoting appropriate technologies and ensuring operational preparedness across all cities.
Scaling up fully mechanized sanitation services to replace manual processes.
Stakeholder Collaboration
Requirement for a coordinated "whole-of-government" approach involving central, state, and local government bodies.
Integration of efforts between Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), technology providers, manufacturers, and civil society organizations.
Impact Analysis
Sanitation Workers and DependentsImpact: They gain access to safer working conditions, health benefits, education, and social security.
Action Required: Transition from manual practices to mechanized sanitation work and utilize benefits provided under the NAMASTE and GARIMA schemes.
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Municipal CorporationsImpact: Responsible for the direct implementation of mechanized services and ensuring operational preparedness at the city level.
Action Required: Scale up mechanized sanitation services and strengthen local institutional mechanisms to prevent fatalities.
Government Ministries and Agencies (Central and State)Impact: Required to provide policy frameworks, funding, and inter-departmental coordination (e.g., NSKFDC as the nodal agency).
Action Required: Adopt a "whole-of-government" approach to synchronize efforts across housing, urban development, and social justice sectors.
Technology Providers and ManufacturersImpact: Increased demand for appropriate sanitation technologies and mechanization tools.
Action Required: Develop and provide innovative, sustainable technological solutions to support a fully mechanized sanitation ecosystem.
Key Entities Referenced
NAMASTE: A central scheme focused on promoting mechanization and ensuring occupational safety, health, and livelihood for sanitation workers.
GARIMA: A scheme aimed at providing education, social security, and livelihood opportunities for sanitation workers and their dependents.
Mission Zero – Ending Fatalities in Sanitation Work: A national initiative and strategic approach seeking to eliminate fatalities in sanitation work through mechanization and institutional preparedness.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment: The primary central ministry responsible for organizing the national workshop and overseeing sanitation-related safety and welfare schemes.
NSKFDC (National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation): The designated nodal agency responsible for the implementation of the NAMASTE scheme.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
National Workshop on "Mission Zero – Ending
Fatalities in Sanitation Work"
Achieving zero fatalities in sanitation work is a core national
priority under the vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister
Narendra Modi; Need for a whole-of-government approach to
ensure safe, systematic and dignified sanitation services:
Secretary Sudhansh Pant
NAMASTE, GARIMA schemes to promote mechanisation and
ensure occupational safety, health, education and livelihood
opportunities for sanitation workers, their dependents.
प्रव तथ: 22 AUG 2026 5:07PM by PIB Delhi
As part of strengthening institutional mechanisms, promoting appropriate technologies, ensuring
operational preparedness and scaling up mechanised sanitation services across cities in the country, a
National Workshop on “Mission Zero: Ending Fatalities in Sanitation Work” was organised at the
State Convention Centre, Lokseva Bhawan, Bhubaneswar in Odisha today.
The workshop was graced by Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha. Among the
other dignitaries present were Shri Sudhansh Pant, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment,
Government of India; Smt. Anu Garg, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Odisha, Smt. Usha Padhee, Additional
Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha; Shri V. K.
Chaurasia, Advisor, CPHEEO; Shri Debabrata Mohanty, Managing Director, WATCO; Shri Prabhat
Kumar Singh, Managing Director, NSKFDC, the nodal agency for implementation of NAMASTE; Ms.
Meghna Malhotra and Shri Xerxes Rao, UMC; Shri Chanchal Rana, IAS, Municipal Commissioner,
Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation; and Dr. Vijay Suryavansi, IAS, Municipal Commissioner, Pimpri
Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.
Senior government officials, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), sanitation-sector experts, manufacturers,
technology providers, civil society organisations and sanitation workers to deliberate on building a safe,
dignified and fully mechanised sanitation ecosystem.
The workshop focused on strengthening institutional mechanisms, promoting appropriate technologies,
ensuring operational preparedness and scaling up mechanised sanitation services across cities, with the
overarching objective of achieving zero fatalities in sanitation work.
Talking to media, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Sudhansh Pant
reiterated that achieving zero fatalities in sanitation work is a core national priority under the vision of the
Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He emphasised the need for a whole-of-government approach to
ensure that sanitation services are delivered safely, systematically and with dignity.Video Clips are attached
National Workshop on “Mission Zero – Ending Fatalities in Sanitation Work” 1
National Workshop on “Mission Zero – Ending Fatalities in Sanitation Work” 2
The participation of diverse stakeholders underscored the importance of coordinated action among
governments, ULBs, technology providers and communities to eliminate hazardous manual sanitation
practices.
The workshop reaffirmed the collective commitment to building a safe, dignified, technology-driven and
sustainable sanitation ecosystem, where no sanitation worker loses their life while performing sanitation
duties.
The Mission Zero approach seeks to transform sanitation work through mechanisation, institutional
preparedness, worker safety, social security and livelihood support, paving the way towards zero fatalities
in sanitation work across the country.
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PR-85-TAR/KV/GA/RK
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2302351) आगंतुक पटल : 1264
इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: ही , Urdu