Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment addressed Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 28 on July 22, 2025, regarding the National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme. The response details key milestones achieved, the issuance of Ayushman Cards, and the scheme's implementation status across the country, including the Sidhi Lok Sabha Constituency. Launched in July 2023, the scheme aims to support the welfare of Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) and Waste Pickers.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Scheme Overview:**
* NAMASTE is a Central Sector Scheme for Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs).
* Waste Pickers were added as a target group in June 2024.
* The scheme provides health insurance under Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PMJAY).
* **Key Milestones Achieved:**
* 84,902 SSWs have been validated.
* 45,871 PPE kits have been dispatched to States/UTs for SSWs.
* 354 Safety Devices Kits have been issued to Emergency Response Sanitation Units.
* 54,140 beneficiaries are covered under Ayushman Bharat PMJAY and State health schemes.
* Capital Subsidy of Rs. 20.36 Crore was released to 707 sanitation workers for sanitation-related projects.
* 1089 workshops were conducted on preventing hazardous cleaning of sewer and septic tanks.
* 37,980 waste pickers have been validated in various Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
* **Implementation Status:**
* 79,759 SSWs validated in States and 5,143 in UTs.
* In Sidhi Lok Sabha Constituency, 66 SSWs have been validated.
* PPE kits issued for 50 SSWs in Sidhi.
* Safety Devices issued for two Emergency Sanitation Response Units (ERSUs) in Sidhi.
* Health insurance cards issued to 53 SSWs in Sidhi.
Impact Analysis:
* **Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) and Waste Pickers:**
* *Impact:* Improved access to health insurance, safety equipment, and financial assistance for sanitation-related projects. Reduction in hazardous cleaning practices through workshops.
* *Action Required:* Participate in validation processes, utilize provided PPE kits and safety devices, and enroll in Ayushman Bharat PMJAY or relevant state health schemes.
* **States and Union Territories:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing the NAMASTE scheme, distributing PPE kits and safety devices, and facilitating access to healthcare.
* *Action Required:* Validate SSWs, dispatch PPE kits, distribute safety devices, and ensure beneficiaries are enrolled in Ayushman Bharat PMJAY or state health schemes.
* **Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs):**
* *Impact:* Enhanced resources with safety device kits to improve response capabilities.
* *Action Required:* Utilize safety device kits for emergency responses and ensure proper training for personnel.
* **Urban Local Bodies (ULBs):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for validating waste pickers and facilitating their inclusion in the scheme.
* *Action Required:* Validate waste pickers within their jurisdiction and support their access to scheme benefits.
Key Entities Referenced
National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem NAMASTE Scheme: A Central Sector Scheme for the welfare of Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) and Waste Pickers, providing health insurance coverage under Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PMJAY).
Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana PMJAY: A health insurance scheme under which NAMASTE scheme extends health insurance coverage to the identified beneficiaries.
Sewer and Septic Tank Workers SSWs: The primary target beneficiaries of the NAMASTE scheme.
Sidhi Lok Sabha Constituency: A Lok Sabha constituency for which the status of implementation of the NAMASTE scheme is detailed.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India where NAMASTE scheme is being implemented.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India where NAMASTE scheme is being implemented.
PPE kits: Personal Protective Equipment kits provided to Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) under the NAMASTE scheme.
Emergency Response Sanitation Units ERSUs: Units provided with Safety Devices Kit for Emergency Response related to sanitation under the NAMASTE scheme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO.28
TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2025
NAMASTE SCHEME
*28. SHRI BALABHADRA MAJHI:
SMT. APARAJITA SARANGI:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the details of key milestones achieved under the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation
Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme;
(b) the details of Ayushman Cards issued under the Scheme to ensure access to quality
healthcare for sanitation workers and their families; and
(c) the detailed status of implementation of the said scheme in the country, State/UT-wise
including Sidhi Lok Sabha Constituency?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)
(a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
REEStatement referred in reply to parts (a) to (c) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No.28 for
answer on 22.07.2025 raised by Shri Balabhadra Majhi and Smt. Aparajita Sarangi
regarding “ NAMASTE scheme”
(a) & (b): National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme is a
Central Sector Scheme for the welfare of Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs). NAMASTE
scheme has been launched in July, 2023. Waste Pickers have been added as a target group under
the scheme in June, 2024.
NAMASTE scheme extends health insurance coverage under Ayushman BharatPradhan Mantri
Jan Aarogya Yojana (PM-JAY) to the identified beneficiaries.
Key milestones achieved under NAMASTE scheme are as under:-
* 84,902 Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) have been validated.
* 45,871 PPE kits for SSWs & 354 Safety Devices Kit for Emergency Response Sanitation Units
have been issued to States/UTs.
* 54,140 beneficiaries have been covered under Ayushman Bharat -PMJAY and State health
scheme.
* Capital Subsidy of Rs. 20.36 Crore released to 707 sanitation workers and their dependents for
sanitation related projects.
* 1089 workshops have been conducted on Prevention of Hazardous Cleaning of Sewer and
Septic Tanks.
Further, 37,980 waste pickers have been validated in various Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across
the country.
(c): 79,759 Sewer and Septic tank Workers (SSWs) have been validated in States and 5,143
SSWs have been validated in UTs. State/UT -wise status of implementation of NAMASTE
scheme is at Annexure. Further, 66 SSWs have been validated in Sidhi Lok Sabha Constituency.
PPE kits have been issued for 50 SSWs, Safety Devices have been issued for two Emergency
Sanitation Response Units (ERSUs) and Health insurance card have been issued to 53 SSWs.Annexure
Annexure referred in reply to part (c) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 28 for
*
answer on 22.07.2025 regarding NAMASTE Scheme
State/ UT-wise status of implementation of NAMASTE scheme
S.No.| STATE/UT SSWs PPE Kits to | Safety Devices |Beneficiaries covered) SUY
Validated | Sewerand | dispatched to under PMJAY, scheme
Septic Tank ERSU NAMASTE and
Workers State health scheme
(SSWs)
1 jiAndaman & 60 40 1 48
Nicobar Islands
2 _|Andhra Pradesh 3992 2124 25 3422 555
3 jArunachal Pradesh 86 86 2 56
4 |Assam 450 308 31 297
5 [Bihar 3310 2626 22 2603 1
6 (Chandigarh 253 252 i 232
7 (Chhattisgarh 1465 634 21 1210
IDadra Nagar 116 116 0 97
Haveli & Daman
8 Diu
9 (Dethi 3645 135 0 1046
10 |Goa 249 93 2 154
11 |Gujarat 5470 4295 17 2236 20
12. [Haryana 2627 2193 0 1747 4
13. [Himachal Pradesh 414 180 0 301
14 Vammu & Kashmir 719 700 2 566
15 Jharkhand 1102 707 a 679
16 |Karnataka 6360 667 19 3695
17 Kerala 1755 1589 14 1282
18 {Ladakh 21 21 2 17
19 |Lakshadweep 86 86 0 81
20 [Madhya Pradesh 3337 1908 24 1980 43
21 |Maharashtra 8297 7135 32 3599
22 _|Manipur 175 110 | 159
23 [Meghalaya 108 0 77
24 |Mizoram 140 140 0 43
25 __|Nagaland 105 10 4 80
26 |Odisha 1295 * 0 0
27 [Puducherry 243 242 2 205
28 {Punjab 4336 4407 1 3139
29 [Rajasthan 3867 3299 2] 1383 7
30 |Sikkim 107 95 5 94
31 [Tamil Nadu 6975 0 6975 44
32__{Telangana 3719 1198 15 2214 7
33__ {Tripura 350 110 8 232
34 |Uttar Pradesh 11969 10092 55 6689 26
35 [Uttarakhand 628 119 6 503
36 |West Bengal 707) 154 0 6999
Grand Total 84902 45871 354 54140 707
* All 1295 SSWs have been provided PPE kits under Garima scheme of the State.
KKK
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