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NAMASTE scheme

In the Union Budget 2023, the Government of India allocated Rs 100 crores for the NAMASTE scheme.

Why in News

In the Union Budget 2023, the Government of India allocated Rs 100 crores for the NAMASTE scheme.


Important Points

• With this scheme, the GoI aims to mechanize septic tank cleaning and sewer cleaning in towns and

cities. The scheme aims to provide an alternate livelihood to sanitation workers.

• In addition, NAMASTE will strive to bring behavioral changes to them.

• The process of extending the Scheme to all the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of the country has been initiated.

What is the NAMASTE Scheme?

• It was launched in 2022 as a Central Sector Scheme.

• The scheme is being undertaken jointly by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) and aims to eradicate unsafe sewer and septic

tank cleaning practices.

Objectives:

• Zero fatalities in sanitation work in India.

• All sanitation work is performed by skilled workers.

• No sanitation workers come in direct contact with human faecal matter.

• Sanitation workers are collectivised into Self Help Groups (SHGs) and are empowered to run sanitation enterprises.

• Strengthened supervisory and monitoring systems at National, State and Urban Local Body (ULB)

levels to ensure enforcement and monitoring of safe sanitation work.

• Increased awareness among sanitation services seekers (individuals and institutions) to seek

services from registered and skilled sanitation workers.

Key Features of the Scheme to be Implemented in all ULBs

• Identification: NAMASTE envisages identifying the Sewer/Septic Tank Workers (SSWs).

• Occupational Training and distribution of PPE Kits to SSWs.

• Assistance for Safety Devices to Sanitation Response Units (SRUs).

• Extending Health Insurance Scheme Benefits to identified SSWs and their families under the Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).

• 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.

• IEC (Information Education and Communication) Campaign: Massive campaigns would be undertaken jointly by the ULBs & NSKFDC (National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation) to spread awareness about the interventions of NAMASTE.

How will NAMSTE be implemented?

• In phase 1, 500 cities are taken. GoI is planning on choosing AMRUT cities first. Also, the first target

will be cities whose population is more than one lakh.

• Ten cities from islands, hilly regions, and tourist destinations will be picked. Bringing changes in

tourist destinations in the sewerage sector is very difficult.

• This is because the carrying capacity of the tourist spots is high. For this reason, the numbers in the

tourism sector are very less. 

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