Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) has formulated a scheme “National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem” (NAMASTE). The process of extending the Scheme to all the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of the country has been initiated. Main features of the Scheme to be implemented in all ULBs are:-

1. Identification: NAMASTE envisages identifying the Sewer/Septic Tank Workers (SSWs).
2. Occupational Training and distribution of PPE Kits to SSWs.
3. Assistance for Safety Devices to Sanitation Response Units (SRUs).
4. Extending Health Insurance Scheme Benefits to identified SSWs and their families under the Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
5. 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.
6. IEC Campaign: Massive campaigns would be undertaken jointly by the ULBs & NSKFDC to spread awareness about the interventions of NAMASTE.

State-wise list of subsidies on sanitation machinery costing up to Rs 15 Lakh is given at Annexure-I.

 

State-wise details of persons who are reported to have died due to hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks during the last five years are at Annexure-II.

 

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has also formulated “National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem” (NAMASTE) particularly to stop deaths of Sewers and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) and to promote mechanisation of cleaning operations with a vision to reduce hazardous cleaning and ensure safety of sanitation workers.

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							Annexure-I
Statement showing the Year-wise Capital Subsidy released for sanitation related projects under Self Employment scheme for rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS)
S.No.	State	Year - 2020-21*		Year - 2021-22		Year - 2022-23
		Amount of capital subsidy (Rs. In Lakh)	No. of Sanitation Workers	Amount of capital subsidy (Rs. In Lakh)	No. of Sanitation Workers	Amount of capital subsidy (Rs. In Lakh)	No. of Sanitation Workers
1	Andhra Pradesh	0	0	1219.08	336	100.72	30
2	Andaman & Nicobar	0	0	38.19	11	0	0
3	Haryana	0	0	9.88	2	0	0
4	Jharkhand	0	0	19.39	5	7.7	2
5	Madhya Praedsh	9.75	3	155.36	42	95.78	21
6	Maharashtra	0	0	7.9	2	0	0
7	Odisha	0	0	62.43	19	0	0
8	Uttar Pradesh	0	0	64.32	18	29.21	8
9	Telangana	0	0	101.85	26	0	0
	Total	9.75	3	1678.40	461	233.41	61
*	The component was added under SRMS from the Year 2020-21

 

 

Annexure-II

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Details of death of persons in sewers and septic tanks during the last five years (2018 to 2022)

S No	Name of State/UT	Number of death
	Andhra Pradesh	12
	Chhatisgarh	1
	Delhi	33
	Dadra Nagar & Havili	3
	Gujarat	23
	Haryana	40
	Jharkhand	3
	Karnataka	23
	Maharashtra	38
	Madhya Pradesh	4
	Odisha	2
	Punjab	7
	Rajasthan	7
	Tamil Nadu	52
	Telangana	7
	Uttrakhand	1
	Uttar Pradesh	46
	West Bengal	6
	Total	308

 

This information was given by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Ramdas Athawale in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

 

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MG/RNM/DP

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