The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, organised the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign at the DIET Auditorium in Budaun, Uttar Pradesh, today with the objective of promoting the message, ‘Honour for Safai Mitras, Resolve for Swachh Bharat’.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Guest Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri B. L. Verma highlighted the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme, which seeks to ensure the dignity and safety of sanitation workers and empower them socially and economically.

He informed that 90,157 sewer and septic tank workers have been profiled under the Scheme. Of these, 87,078 have received personal protective equipment (PPE) kits and 76,920 have been covered under health insurance.

The Minister further stated that 5,00,013 waste pickers have been profiled, of whom 3,15,593 have been validated. A total of 1,79,269 waste pickers have been provided PPE kits.

Shri Verma informed that in Budaun, 146 sewer and septic tank workers and 339 waste pickers have been validated through the profiling process.

During the programme, PPE kits were symbolically presented by Shri Verma to 40 sewer and septic tank workers and 30 waste pickers. In addition, Ayushman cards were also distributed among 31 SafaiMitras, while six Safai Mitras received keys of auto-rickshaws.

The programme reaffirmed the Government's commitment to ‘Vanchiton Ko Variyata’ - giving priority to the deprived - by ensuring that people who have historically remained underserved or overlooked receive the assistance and support to which they are entitled. This focus on those at the margins reflects the Government's broader vision of Viksit Bharat, in which every citizen has an opportunity to contribute to and benefit from India's development journey.

Among those present were Shri Rajeev Singh, Member of the Legislative Assembly, Dataganj; Shri Harish Chandra, Member of the Legislative Assembly, Bilsi; Shri Vagish Pathak, Member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council; Smt. Varsha Yadav, Chairperson, Zila Panchayat, Budaun; and Shri Prabhat Kumar Singh, Managing Director, National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation.

PR-124- TAR/KV/GA/RK

(Release ID: 2311712) Visitor Counter : 89