NAMASTE Scheme - Key Features

 The NAMASTE program is co-launched by the "Ministry of  Justice and Social Empowerment" and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs".

This is a program of the central sector. The program aims to ensure the safety and dignity of sanitation workers across Indian cities by building an  ecosystem that recognizes sanitation workers as important contributors in maintaining and operating sanitation infrastructure.

Important package features include: 

The program aims to provide sanitation workers with a sustainable livelihood and improve safety in their workplace in addition to improving access to safe equipment and machines. 

• It aims to provide access to alternative livelihoods  and reduce the vulnerability of sanitation workers.
• This will allow sanitation workers to access skilled self-employment and salaried jobs.
• It will also lead to a change in people's behavior towards sanitation workers and an increase in demand for safe cleaning services.

  The main objectives of the Project are: 

• There have been no deaths in sanitation works across India.
• Ensure that remedial work is carried out by qualified workers.
• Ensure sanitation workers do not come into direct contact with human feces. 
• Ensure that sanitation workers are empowered to run cleaning businesses.
• Expand access to alternative livelihoods for all sewer and septic tank (SSW) workers.

  Under the NAMASTE program, sewer or septic tank workers will be identified and will focus  on informal workers engaged in hazardous cleanup activities. It will allow ministries to reach  workers and their families to provide them with the support they need for skills development.