NAMASTE Scheme

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The union budget in 2023-2024 has allocated nearly Rs 100 crore for the National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) and the government is looking to enable 100% mechanical desludging of septic tanks and sewers in all cities and towns.

The process of extending the Scheme to all the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of the country has been initiated.

This scheme is being undertaken jointly by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) and aims to eradicate unsafe sewer and septic tank cleaning practicese

Manual scavenging is considered a dehumanising practice. India banned the practice in 2020 under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (PEMSR). 

The objective of the Namaste scheme are the following: 

All sanitation work is performed by skilled workers. 

No sanitation workers come in direct contact with human faecal matter. 

Sanitation workers are collectivised into Self Help Group (SHGs) and are empowered to run sanitation enterprises. 

Strengthened supervisory and monitoring systems at National, State and Urban Local Body (ULB) levels to ensure enforcement and monitoring of safe sanitation work. 

Increased awareness among sanitation services seekers (individuals and institutions) to seek services from registered and skilled sanitation workers.

Key Features of the Scheme to be Implemented in all ULBs are as follows:

Identification: NAMASTE envisages identifying the Sewer/Septic Tank Workers (SSWs).

Occupational Training and distribution of PPE Kits to SSWs.

Assistance for Safety Devices to Sanitation Response Units (SRUs).

Extending Health Insurance Scheme Benefits to identified SSWs and their families under the Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).

Livelihood Assistance: The Action Plan will promote mechanization and enterprise development by providing funding support and subsidy (capital +interest) to the sanitation workers, to procure sanitation related equipments.

IEC (Information Education and Communication) Campaign: Massive campaigns would be undertaken jointly by the ULBs & NSKFDC (National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation) to spread awareness about the interventions of NAMASTE.

Manual scavenging is a practice that should be avoided at all cost as the country has witnessed thousands of fatalities due to the practice of manual scavenging. 



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