National Action Plan for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE)

Why in News?

A programme focused on the National Action Plan for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) was organised by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in Bareilly.

It aimed to socially and economically empower sanitation workers and promote safe, dignified livelihoods.

About: It is a collaborative initiative by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
- It was launched in 2023-24 as a Central Sector Scheme with a budget allocation of 349.73 crores for the period from 2023-24 to 2025-26.
- It primarily aims to eliminate manual scavenging and promote the safety and dignity of sanitation workers.
- Key Components:
  - SSWs employed by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) are to be profiled for targeted interventions.
  - SSWs receive occupational safety training, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits, and health insurance under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
  - The scheme promotes self-employment and formal employment by providing capital subsidies to turn SSWs into “sanipreneurs” or sanitation entrepreneurs.
  - Waste Pickers engaged in Solid Waste Management have been included as a component under the NAMASTE scheme in 2024.
Objectives:
- To socially and economically empower sanitation workers, especially those engaged in hazardous sewer and septic tank cleaning.
- To ensure workers have access to safe, dignified, and sustainable livelihoods by mechanizing sanitation work and reducing health risks.
- To promote inclusion, safety, and welfare of workers through the distribution of PPE and healthcare benefits.

The programme is a vital step towards improving the socio-economic conditions of sanitation workers who often face hazardous working environments and social stigma.
The emphasis on mechanization under NAMASTE reduces manual scavenging, promoting healthier and safer work conditions.
Distribution of Ayushman cards under the (AB-PMJAY) ensures access to health services, crucial for workers exposed to occupational health risks.
Providing sewing machines promotes alternative livelihood opportunities, fostering skill diversification and economic stability.
NAMASTE aligns with the government’s broader objectives of social justice, inclusion, and welfare for marginalized communities.
The programme helps in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to decent work, health, and well-being (SDGs 3 & 8).

Manual scavenging is defined as “the removal of human excrement from public streets and dry latrines, cleaning septic tanks, gutters and sewers”.
India banned the practice under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (PEMSR).
The Act recognizes manual scavenging as a “dehumanizing practice” and seeks to address the historical injustices faced by manual scavengers.

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