NAMASTE Scheme [UPSC Notes]

National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) is an initiative to ensure the safety of sanitation workers. The Scheme has been approved with an outlay of Rs. 360 crore for four years from 2022-23 to  2025-26. The Union Budget 2023-2024 has allocated nearly Rs 100 crore for the NAMASTE Scheme. In this article, you will learn about the NAMASTE Scheme, a topic important for the IAS exam.

NAMASTE Scheme

The scheme envisages the safety and dignity of sanitation workers in urban India by creating an enabling ecosystem that recognises sanitation workers as one of the key contributors in the operations and maintenance of sanitation infrastructure. 

• It aims at providing sustainable livelihood and enhancing the occupational safety of sanitation workers through capacity building and improved access to safety gear and machines.
• The scheme is expected to bring about a behaviour change among citizens towards sanitation workers and enhance demand for safe sanitation services.
• The Namaste Scheme replaces the self-employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) which was launched in 2007. The objective of SRMs was to rehabilitate manual scavengers and their dependents in alternative occupations.
• The scheme will be implemented in 500 cities that have been notified under the AMRUT Scheme (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation).

NAMASTE Scheme aims to achieve the following outcomes: 

• Zero fatalities in sanitation work.
• All sanitation work should be done by skilled workers.
• No direct contact with human faecal matter.
• Sanitation workers are collectivised into SHGs (Self Help Groups) and are empowered to run sanitation enterprises.
• All Sewer and Septic tank sanitation workers (SSWs) have access to alternative livelihoods. 
• Strengthened supervisory and monitoring systems at national, state and ULB levels to ensure enforcement and monitoring of safe sanitation work.
• Increased awareness amongst sanitation services seekers (individuals and institutions) to seek services from registered and skilled sanitation workers.

NAMASTE Scheme Features

Key Features of the Namaste Scheme to be implemented in all ULBs:

• Enumeration – NAMASTE envisages identifying the Sewer/Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) who are engaged in hazardous cleaning operations. The survey is conducted by the City NAMASTE Managers and validated by the concerned ULBs.
• Occupational training and distribution of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) kits to SSWs.
• Assistance for safety devices to SRUs (Sanitation Response Units).
• Extending Insurance Scheme benefits – For providing a safety net to identified SSWs and their families, they will be covered under AB-PMJAY (Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana).
• Livelihood Assistance – The action plan will promote mechanisation and enterprise development. The National Safai Karamchari Financial Development Corporation (NSKFDC) will provide funding support and subsidy (capital + interest) to the sanitation workers, SHGs of SSWs and Private Sanitation Service Organisations (PSSOs) to procure sanitation-related equipment and vehicles for total mechanisation of cleaning operations.
• Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaigns – To spread awareness campaigns to be undertaken jointly by the ULBs and NSKFDC.

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