National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE)

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) –

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in convergence with Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs have launched National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme in July 2023 to ensure safety and dignity of sanitation workers. The focus is on prevention of hazardous cleaning and promotion of safe cleaning practices through trained and certified sanitation workers. The objective of the scheme is to formalize and rehabilitate the persons engaged in hazardous cleaning of sewer and septic tanks.

The intended outcome of NAMASTE scheme is to achieve zero fatalities in sanitation work; elimination of direct contact of sanitation workers with human faecal matter; all cleaning operations to be done through safety devices; all sanitation work to be  performed by skilled workers; strengthening and capacitating of Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs) to ensure safe delivery of mechanized sanitation services and   empowerment of sanitation workers through formation of Self-Help Groups and entrepreneurship etc.

The components includes profiling of Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs); Health Insurance coverage under AB- PMJAY; Occupational safety training of SSWs; upfront Capital Subsidy for procurement of Sanitation related Vehicles/ Equipments; PPE kits to SSWs; safety devices to ERSUs and IEC Campaign for awareness of safety and dignity of SSWs.

Waste Pickers engaged in Solid Waste Management have been included as a component under NAMASTE scheme in 2024 with objective to provide safe, dignified and sustainable livelihoods by empowering them through various interventions. Waste pickers will be enumerated and provided training on occupational safety and skill upgradation training; specific to season and need based PPE Kits ; Health Insurance coverage under Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY and upfront Capital subsidy for Waste Collection Vehicles etc.

Components of erstwhile Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) like health insurance under Ayushman Bharat – PMJAY; skill development training and upfront capital subsidy for self employment projects have been subsumed in NAMASTE scheme.

National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) {Formerly Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS)} APPLICABLE FROM THE YEAR 2023-24. (In English)

Scheme Guidelines for inclusion of Waste Pickers Component under NAMASTE (APPLICABLE FROM THE YEAR 2024-25). (In English)

The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.

The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Rules, 2013.

Go to website of National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC)

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Last updated on : 17 August 2026