State PCS - Uttar Pradesh (UP PCS)

• 19 May 2025

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. 

Key Points 

National Action Plan for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) 

• 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. 

Significance of the Programme   

• 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 

• 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. 

Schemes Related to Manual Scavenging 

• Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SESRM) 
• National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) 
• Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan 
• Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 
• The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) 

India’s first Jungle Safari Vistadome Train

Why in News? 

The Indian Railways and the government of Uttar Pradesh introduced India’s first Vistadome jungle safari train. 

Key Points 

Jungle Safari Vistadome Train 

•  About: 
  • This initiative will connect the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary with the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, offering passengers a chance to experience the state's rich biodiversity. 
  • At present, the service operates on weekends but plans are being firmed up to expand it to daily operations, making it accessible to more visitors year-round. 
• One Destination, Three Forests:  
  • This plan is part of the “One Destination, Three Forests” theme by the Eco Tourism Board of Uttar Pradesh.  
  • It aims to bring Dudhwa National Park, Katarniaghat, and Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary together as one combined tourist destination for a richer and more connected wildlife experience. 
• Economic Importance: 
  • The train is expected to boost local tourism, create new jobs, and support sustainable development. 

Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary 

• It is situated in the Upper Ganga Plain, Bahraich district, Uttar Pradesh, covering 400.6 sq km with a rich and diverse ecosystem. 
• It was established in 1975. In 1987, it was brought under the purview of the ‘Project Tiger’, and together with the Kishanpur  Wildlife Sanctuary and the Dudhwa National Park it forms the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. 
  • Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary was later declared a Tiger Reserve in 2008. 
• It hosts animals like chital, deer, wild boar, tiger, elephant, and leopard, and endangered species such as gharial, rhinoceros, Gangetic dolphin, swamp deer, hispid hare, Bengal florican, and vultures. 
• It features mixed deciduous forests of sal and teak, grasslands, swamps, and wetlands, with the Girwa River maintaining ecosystem balance. 

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve 

• Located in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh on the Indo-Nepal border, within Lakhimpur-Kheri district. 
• Known for its rich biodiversity, it is home to Bengal tiger, Indian rhinoceros, swamp deer, leopard, and many bird species. 
  • Part of the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL), which includes: 
    • Dudhwa National Park 
    • Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary 
    • Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary 
  • These three areas form the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger, protecting the last viable population of Royal Bengal Tigers in the state. 
  • Dudhwa National Park and Kishanpur Sanctuary joined the reserve in 1987, and Katarniaghat joined in 2000.