Lok Sabha Question No. 2778 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-18
Subject: NAMASTE Scheme
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Bidyut Baran Mahato, Shri P C Mohan, Dr. Hemant Vishnu Savara, Shri Chavda Vinod Lakhamshi, Shri Naba Charan Majhi, Shri Anoop Pradhan Valmiki, Shri Gajendra  Singh Patel, Shri Praveen Patel, Shri Ganesh Singh, Shri Yogender Chandolia, Ms Kangna Ranaut, Shri Trivendra Singh Rawat, Smt. Smita Uday Wagh, Shri Captain Brijesh Chowta, Shri Arun Govil, Shri Dineshbhai Makwana

## MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2778

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2025

## NAMASTE SCHEME

2778.SHRI PRAVEEN PATEL:

SHRI GANESH SINGH:

SHRI YOGENDER CHANDOLIA:

SHRI P C MOHAN:

SHRI TRIVENDRA SINGH RAWAT:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN МАНАТО:

SHRI ARUN GOVIL:

SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA:

SHRI ANOOP PRADHAN VALMIKI:

SMT. SMITA UDAY WAGH:

SHRI CHAVDA VINOD LAKHAMSHI:

SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH PATEL:

MS KANGNA RANAUT:

SHRI NABA CHARAN MAJHI:

DR. HEMANT VISHNU SAVARA:

SHRI DINESHBHAI MAKWANA:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the Government ensures that training under the NAMASTE Scheme effectively prevents hazardous conditions for sanitation workers;
- (b) the steps taken to accelerate the distribution of Ayushman health cards to all eligible sanitation workers;
- (c) the plan of the involve worker unions and NGOs in implementing and monitoring the scheme;
- (d) whether the Government plans to expand the scheme to include all sanitation workers involved in hazardous waste management, If so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the number of sanitation workers in Dakshina Kannada covered under the scheme, including details on training, health benefits, and mechanization efforts in the district?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

(SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)

- (a): Department of Social Justice and Empowerment in convergence with Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched the "National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE)" Scheme in 2023-24 for implementation in all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of the country. The objective is to ensure safety and dignity of Safai Karmacharis and empower them socially and economically.

Capacity Building of Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) is covered through (i) workshops on prevention of hazardous cleaning of sewers and (ii) occupational training as Junior Technician-Mechanized Sewer Cleaning and Desludging Operator.

(b): Following steps have been taken to accelerate the distribution of Ayushman cards to eligible sewer and septic tank workers under NAMASTE scheme.

- i. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Common Service Centres (CSC) for assistance in validation/eKYC.
- ii. eKYC camps have been conducted in various locations by CSC/Urban Local Bodies
- iii. To facilitate prompt eKYC, Operator Ids have been provided to · State Project Management Units.
- iv. Finger Scanner has also been made available to State Project Management Units for eKYC.

(c): A Coordination Committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Secretary, MoSJE for overseeing the implementation of NAMASTE scheme. In addition, there is a three tier working group at Centre, State and District level to monitor the activities undertaken for its implementation.

There is no plan to involve worker unions and NGOs in implementation and monitoring the scheme.

(d): Waste Pickers have been added as component under NAMASTE scheme from 202425. The objective is to provide safe, dignified and sustainable livelihoods to waste pickers engaged in Solid Waste Management by empowering them through various interventions.

(e): The following benefits have been provided to Sewer and Septic Tank Workers in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka:-

- i. 210 Sewer and Septic Tank Workers have been validated.
- ii. Ayushman Cards have been made available to 85 beneficiaries.

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