The Ministry of Social Justice Empowerment under the leadership of Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar has been implementing the National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme, which aims to provide dignity and safety to sanitation workers by empowering them socially and economically. A recent event witnessed the distribution of sanitation kits, Ayushman Cards, PPE Kits, and subsidies for purchasing mechanized cleaning vehicles under this scheme in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The initiative seeks to improve the welfare of sanitary workers, with a total of 68,547 sewer septic tank workers already being profiled under the scheme. As part of this commitment, the distribution of sanitation equipment and assistance for accessing loans towards mechanized cleaning vehicles reflects the government's dedication to elevating the status and opportunities available to marginalized sectors of society in India.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Social Justice Empowerment: The Indian government ministry responsible for social justice and empowerment.
Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar: The current minister in charge of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in India.
NAMASTE Scheme: National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem. A scheme focused on ensuring the dignity and safety of sanitation workers.
Sanitation Kits: Kits distributed to Safai Karamcharis (sanitation workers) as part of the NAMASTE Scheme.
Ayushman Cards: Health insurance cards distributed to Safai Karamcharis (sanitation workers).
Safai Karamcharis: Sanitation workers, the target beneficiaries of the NAMASTE scheme.
PIB Mumbai: Press Information Bureau, Mumbai - the source of the press release.
08 MAY 2025: Date of the press release.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: City where the distribution event took place.
Sewer Septic Tank Workers: Workers profiled under NAMASTE scheme.
SSWs: Abbreviation for Sewer Septic Tank Workers
PPE Kits: Personal Protective Equipment kits.
Swachhta Udyami Yojana: SUY - A scheme providing subsidized loans for mechanized cleaning vehicles.
SUY: Abbreviation of Swachhta Udyami Yojana
ERSU: Acronym for an unspecified entity or device. Setting up safety devices for ERSU was handed over to the Additional Commissioner, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Shri Ranjit Patil.
Shri Ranjit Patil: Additional Commissioner, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Smt. Anuradhatai Chavan: MLA, Phulambari.
Phulambari: Location of Smt. Anuradhatai Chavan's MLA position
Shri Anil Tanpure: Executive Engineer of the Department of Mechanics, Govt. of Maharashtra.
Govt. of Maharashtra: Government of Maharashtra
Shri Preshit Waghmare: Junior Engineer, Govt. of Maharashtra.
Shri Prabhat Kumar Singh: Managing Director, National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation.
National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation: An organisation, of which Shri Prabhat Kumar Singh is the Managing Director.
Shri Rakesh Bed: General Manager, Mahatma Phule Backward Classes Development Corporation Limited.
Mahatma Phule Backward Classes Development Corporation Limited: An organisation, of which Shri Rakesh Bed is the General Manager.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr.
Virendra Kumar distributes NAMASTE Scheme
Sanitation Kits and Ayushman Cards to Safai
Karamcharis
NAMASTE scheme ensures dignity and safety of
sanitation workers and empowers them: Dr. Virendra
Kumar
Posted On: 08 MAY 2025 7:51PM by PIB Mumbai
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar/Mumbai, 8 May 2025
Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar distributed Sanitation Kits
and Ayushman Cards to Safai Karamcharis under the National Action for Mechanized Sanitation
Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme, at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar today.
110 Sewer & Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) has been profiled under NAMASTE scheme at
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. PPE Kits & Ayushman Cards were distributed to a few of them. The
sanction letters for subsidized low rate loan for purchase of mechanized cleaning vehicles under
Swachhta Udyami Yojana (SUY) were also distributed to the beneficiaries.
Safety devices for setting up ERSU was handed over to the Additional Commissioner, Chhatrapati
Sambhajinagar Shri Ranjit Patil, by the Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Dr.
Virendra Kumar.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Virendra Kumar informed about the National Action for MechanizedSanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme which has the objective of ensuring dignity and safety of
sanitation workers and empowering them socially and economically. It was also informed that, so
far, 68,547 sewer septic tank workers have been profiled under the scheme and 45,871 sewer
septic tank workers have been provided PPE kits and 28,447 of them have been provided with
Ayushman cards.
The event witnessed the reaffirmation of Government’s commitment to the welfare of the
underprivileged. This dedication to prioritising the marginalised reflects the government's broader
vision of a developed India where every individual has the opportunity to contribute to and benefit
from India's development journey.
Smt. Anuradhatai Chavan, MLA, Phulambari, Shri Anil Tanpure, Executive Engineer of the
Department of Mechanics, Govt. of Maharashtra, Shri Preshit Waghmare, Junior Engineer, Govt. of
Maharashtra, Shri Prabhat Kumar Singh, Managing Director, National Safai Karamcharis Finance
and Development Corporation and Shri Rakesh Bed, General Manager, Mahatma Phule Backward
Classes Development Corporation Limited, were also present on the occasion.* * *
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(Release ID: 2127798)