India: NAMASTE scheme to eradicate unsafe sewer and septic-tank cleaning practices, 308 deaths in last five years

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) has formulated a scheme “National Action for Mechanized 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.

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.

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

This information was given by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowermentt, Ramdas Athawale in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.