Government Emphasizes Safety and Dignity of Sanitation Workers via Mechanization and Rehabilitation
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Economy
Why in news
The central government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety, dignity, and socio-economic rehabilitation of sanitation workers. This was communicated in a written reply by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale to Mallikarjun Kharge, highlighting the progress under the NAMASTE scheme and rehabilitation efforts.
Background
Manual scavenging has been a persistent social evil in India, leading to deaths and indignity. The government has been implementing schemes to mechanize cleaning and rehabilitate identified manual scavengers, with surveys conducted in 2013 and 2018 identifying 58,098 such individuals.
Key facts
Under NAMASTE scheme, 2,71,155 PPE kits distributed to sanitation workers and waste pickers.
1,023 sanitation workers received capital assistance for purchasing mechanized cleaning equipment.
20,293 beneficiaries underwent professional safety and skill development training.
1,81,062 beneficiaries covered under health insurance.
Between 1 Jan 2021 and 30 Jun 2026, 332 sanitation workers died during hazardous sewer and septic tank cleaning.
Of these deaths, 268 cases received full compensation and 18 received partial compensation.
No reports of injuries to sanitation and waste management workers received from states/UTs.
58,098 manual scavengers identified in surveys (2013 and 2018).
All identified beneficiaries received one-time cash assistance; 27,926 received skill development training; 2,803 received capital subsidy for self-employment projects.
The government is promoting mechanized cleaning to replace hazardous manual cleaning.
Prelims pointers
- NAMASTE scheme (National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem) launched in 2023.
- Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- NAMASTE aims to replace manual cleaning with mechanized methods and ensure safety of sewer/septic tank workers and waste pickers.
- National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) is a statutory body.
- Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.
- One-time cash assistance, skill development, and capital subsidy are components of rehabilitation.
- PPE kits: Personal Protective Equipment.
- Health insurance coverage for sanitation workers.
- Surveys for manual scavengers conducted in 2013 and 2018.
- Compensation for deaths during hazardous cleaning.
Mains angles
- GS2: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections; issues relating to social justice and empowerment.
- GS2: Government policies and interventions for development of marginalized groups.
- GS3: Mechanization in sanitation sector; occupational safety and health.
- GS3: Inclusive growth and employment generation.