Lok Sabha Question No. 2648 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-16
Subject: Sewer and Septic Tank Workers
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Bhojraj Nag, Shri Chintamani Maharaj, Shri Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor, Shri Avimanyu Sethi, Shri Anil Firojiya, Shri Praveen Patel, Smt. Bijuli Kalita Medhi

-

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2648 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2025

## SEWER AND SEPTIC TANK WORKERS

$2648. SHRI BHOJRAJ NAG:

SHRI CHINTAMANI MAHARAJ:

SHRI JASWANTSINH SUMANBHAI BHABHOR:

SMT. BIJULI KALITA MEDHI:

SHRI AVIMANYU SETHI:

SHRI PRAVEEN PATEL:

SHRI ANIL FIROJIYA:

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

- (a) the manner in which the access to healthcare services for verified Sewer and Septic tank Workers has improved and their occupational risks have reduced with their coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) scheme and the distribution of PPE kits and Ayushman Cards under NAMESITE so far, State and district-wise including Guwahati and Himachal Pradesh;
- (b) the effective models developed for the formal integration of rag pickers and the manner in which their entrepreneurial efforts are being promoted by Capital grants;
- (c) the impact of increase in Capital grant support for Sanipreneurs towards promoting mechanical sanitation and reducing manual sanitation practices; and
- (d) whether the Government has provided any special assistance for complete mechanization of toilet and sewer cleaning operations in urban/semi-urban areas like Dahod city, Devgadh Baria, Limkheda, Singvad and Garbada in the Dahod Lok Sabha Constituency?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RAMDAS ATHAWALE)

(a): National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme links validated Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) to Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) health coverage, so that they can access cashless secondary/tertiary care in empanelled hospitals.

Access to healthcare has improved as validated SSWs avail cashless treatment for a wide range of illnesses and injuries at PMJAY-empanelled hospitals. Pre-authorizations recorded in the Transaction Management System further confirms that the SSWs are taking medical facilities.

:

The distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits under NAMASTE scheme has strengthened occupational safety and saves the SSWs from respiratory and skin diseases and has a direct effect on their wellbeing.

PMJAY coverage has made healthcare more accessible, reduced out-of-pocket expenditures and PPE distribution has enhanced workplace safety for SSWs.

State- District wise details are at Annexure.

(b): Profiling of Waste pickers under NAMASTE scheme aims to integrate them in the Solid Waste Management value chain by helping them to set up and manage Dry Waste Collection Centres (DWCC) with support of Resource Organizations and the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).

Waste Pickers collectives are eligible to receive upfront capital subsidy upto Rs. 5 Lakh per DWCC for procurement of Dry Waste Collection vehicles.

(c): There is a provision of upfront Capital Subsidy under NAMASTE scheme to Sanitation workers for procurement of mechanized cleaning equipments /vehicles to help them transform into 'SANIEPRENEUR'.

Capital Subsidy of Rs. 23.91 Crores has been released to 782 sanitation workers and their dependents for procurement of mechanized cleaning equipment's/vehicles under NAMASTE scheme.

Upfront capital subsidy has been revised upward from August, 2025 to encourage greater uptake and inclusion and to push for mechanization.

(d): Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched Swachh Bharat Mission Urban (SBM-U) 2.0 on 1st, October, 2021. It includes a new component i.e. Used Water management (UWM) with one of the objectives of eradication of hazardous entry into sewers and septic tanks and elimination of manual cleaning, through mechanization of sewer and septic tank cleaning operations.

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has also issued the following advisories for safe cleaning of sewer and septic tanks:-

- i. Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for cleaning of Sewer or Septic tank.
- ii. Advisory for technical and managerial interventions for ensuring safety during sewer and septic tank cleaning through Emergency Response Sanitation Unit (ERSU).

iii. Ready Reckoner for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) for ensuring safety of sanitation workers.

iv. Organising Safaimitra Suraksha Shivirs nationwide through ULBs to provide health check-ups and linkages to social welfare schemes.

- v. Issued protocol for Safai Mitra Surakshit Shehar.

However, under SBM-U 2.0, Central Share of funds are released to the States/UTs on the basis of receipt of action plans from States/UTs duly approved by State Level Technical Committee (SLTC), which are further transmitted to ULBs by the concerned State/UT Govt. as per their action plan.

Under UWM component of SBM-U 2.0, total project cost of Rs.113.06 Crore having Central share of Rs.56.52 Crore has been approved so far for procurement of 416 Sewer cleaning equipments for 236 ULBs in the State of Gujarat.

Annexure referred in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2648 for answer on 16.12.2025 Regarding Sewer and Septic Tank Workers.

State and District wise status of validated SSWs, distribution of PPE kits and Health Insurance Coverage

| District                | SSWs Validated   | PPE kits   | Health Insurance Coverag NAMASTE+PMJAY State Scheme   |
|-------------------------|------------------|------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
| South Andaman           | 60               | 60         | 60                                                    |
| Anakapalli              | 56               | 56         | 56                                                    |
| Anantapur               | 158              | 158        | 138                                                   |
| Annamayya               | 42               | 42.        | 38                                                    |
| Bapatla                 | 72               |            | 63                                                    |
| Chittoor                | 100              | 100        | 89                                                    |
| East Godavari           | 186              | 186        | 179                                                   |
| Eluru                   | 175              | 175        | 169                                                   |
| Guntur                  |                  | 248        | 228                                                   |
| Kadapa                  | 184              | 184        | 153                                                   |
| Kakinada                | 258              | 258        | 242                                                   |
| Konaseema               | 93               | 93         | 84                                                    |
| Krishna                 | 147              | 147        | 138                                                   |
| Kurnool                 |                  | 186        | 162                                                   |
| Manyam                  | 14               | 14         | 13                                                    |
| Nandyal                 | 42               | 42         | 37                                                    |
| Nellore                 |                  | 219        | 193                                                   |
| NTR                     |                  | 370        | 359                                                   |
| Palnadu                 |                  | 132        | 118                                                   |
| Prakasam                | 85               | 75         | 76                                                    |
| Sri Satyasai            |                  | 111        | 98                                                    |
| Srikakulam              | 99               | 99         | 90                                                    |
| Tirupati                | 257              | 257        | 216                                                   |
| Visakhapatnam           |                  | 531        | 499                                                   |
| Vizianagaram            |                  | 149        | 117                                                   |
| West Godavari Changlang |                  | 10         | 92                                                    |
| Dibang Valley           | 14               |            | 5                                                     |
| East Kameng Lepa Rada   |                  |            |                                                       |
| Lohit Longding          |                  |            |                                                       |
| Lower Subansari         |                  |            |                                                       |
| Papum Pare              |                  |            |                                                       |
| Siang                   |                  |            |                                                       |
| Tawang                  |                  |            |                                                       |
| Tirap                   |                  |            |                                                       |
| Upper Siang             |                  |            |                                                       |
| Upper Subansiri         |                  |            |                                                       |
| West Kameng             |                  |            |                                                       |
| West Siang              |                  |            |                                                       |
| Baksa                   |                  |            |                                                       |
| Barpeta                 |                  |            |                                                       |
| Biswanath               |                  |            |                                                       |
| Bongaigaon              |                  |            |                                                       |
| Cachar                  |                  |            |                                                       |
| Charaideo               |                  |            |                                                       |
| Chirang                 |                  |            |                                                       |
| Darrang                 |                  |            |                                                       |
| Dhemaji                 |                  |            |                                                       |
| Dibrugarh               |                  |            |                                                       |

| State        | District   |    | PPE kits   | Health Insurance Coverage (NAMASTE+PMJAY+   |
|--------------|------------|----|------------|---------------------------------------------|
|              |            |    | 34         | State Scheme) 28                            |
|              |            |    | 13         |                                             |
|              |            |    | 24         |                                             |
|              |            |    | 1          |                                             |
|              |            |    | 16         |                                             |
|              |            |    | 9          |                                             |
|              |            |    | 33         | 24                                          |
|              |            |    | 55         | 34                                          |
|              |            |    | 12         | 11                                          |
|              |            |    |            | NATE                                        |
|              |            |    | 8          |                                             |
|              |            |    | 4          |                                             |
|              |            |    | 17         |                                             |
|              |            |    | 7          | 7                                           |
|              |            |    | 12         | 9                                           |
|              |            |    | 24         | 21                                          |
|              |            |    | 7          |                                             |
| Bihar        |            |    |            |                                             |
|              |            |    |            | 85                                          |
|              |            |    | 133        | 103                                         |
|              |            |    | 65         | 44                                          |
|              |            | 44 | 44         | 32                                          |
|              |            |    | 120        | 98                                          |
|              |            |    | 193        | 164                                         |
|              |            | 40 | 40         | 30                                          |
|              |            | 57 |            | 33                                          |
|              |            | 37 |            | 32                                          |
|              |            | 33 |            |                                             |
|              |            |    |            | 106                                         |
|              |            |    |            | 76 21                                       |
|              |            |    |            | 14                                          |
|              |            |    |            | 53                                          |
|              |            |    | 132        | 115                                         |
|              |            |    | 178        | 145                                         |
|              |            |    | 44         | 39                                          |
|              |            |    | 137        | 131                                         |
|              |            |    | 604        | 516                                         |
|              |            | 66 | 66         | 44 70                                       |
|              |            |    |            | 100                                         |
|              |            |    |            | 58                                          |
|              |            |    |            | 103                                         |
|              |            |    | 36         | 82 31                                       |
|              |            |    |            | 31                                          |
|              |            | 33 |            | 40                                          |
|              |            |    |            | 42                                          |
|              |            | 93 |            | 71                                          |
|              |            |    | 252        | 65                                          |
|              |            |    |            | 234                                         |
| Chandigarh   |            |    | 40         | 40                                          |
| Chhattisgarh |            |    |            | 34                                          |
|              |            | 39 |            |                                             |
|              |            |    | 39         |                                             |

| State                                | District   |    | PPE kits   | Health Insurance Coverage (NAMASTE+PMJAY+   |
|--------------------------------------|------------|----|------------|---------------------------------------------|
|                                      |            |    |            | State Scheme) 11                            |
|                                      |            |    |            | 11                                          |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and |            |    |            |                                             |
| Diu                                  |            |    |            |                                             |
| Delhi                                |            |    |            |                                             |
|                                      |            |    |            | 166                                         |
| Goa                                  |            |    |            |                                             |
| Gujarat                              |            |    |            |                                             |
|                                      |            | 26 |            |                                             |
|                                      |            | 94 |            |                                             |
|                                      |            | 89 |            |                                             |

| State            |    | PPE kits   | Health Insurance Coverage (NAMASTE+PMJAY+ State Scheme)   |
|------------------|----|------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|                  |    | 107        | 5                                                         |
|                  |    | 90         | 48                                                        |
|                  |    | 210        | 133                                                       |
|                  |    | 156        | 48                                                        |
|                  |    | 158        | 52                                                        |
|                  |    | 83         | 45                                                        |
|                  |    | 91         | 41                                                        |
|                  |    | 25         | 14                                                        |
|                  |    | 88         | 49                                                        |
|                  |    | 4          | 2                                                         |
|                  |    | 90         | 19                                                        |
|                  |    | 65         | 26                                                        |
|                  |    | 78         | 34                                                        |
|                  |    | 76         | 26                                                        |
|                  |    | 533        | 388                                                       |
|                  |    | 62         | 29                                                        |
|                  |    | 1478       | 977                                                       |
|                  |    |            | . 64                                                      |
|                  |    |            | 46                                                        |
| Haryana          |    | 152        | 140                                                       |
|                  |    |            | 72                                                        |
|                  |    |            | 16                                                        |
|                  |    | 331        | 249 63                                                    |
|                  |    | 442        | 345                                                       |
|                  |    | 168        | 145                                                       |
|                  |    | 67         | 54 69                                                     |
|                  |    | 82 75      | 73                                                        |
|                  |    | 149        | 123                                                       |
|                  |    |            | 20                                                        |
|                  |    |            | 43                                                        |
|                  |    | 58         | 42                                                        |
|                  |    | 57         | 53                                                        |
|                  |    | 216        | 194                                                       |
| Himachal Pradesh |    |            |                                                           |
|                  |    | 40         |                                                           |
|                  |    |            | 136                                                       |
| Jammu & Kashmir  |    |            |                                                           |
|                  | 13 |            | 13                                                        |
|                  | 30 |            |                                                           |

..

| State     | SSWs Validated   | PPE kits   | Health Insurance Coverage (NAMASTE+PMJAY+   |
|-----------|------------------|------------|---------------------------------------------|
|           |                  |            | State Scheme 5                              |
|           | 10               |            | 8                                           |
|           | 16               |            | 16                                          |
|           | 31               |            | 31                                          |
|           | 12               |            | 11                                          |
|           | 18               |            | 16                                          |
|           | 26               |            | 17                                          |
|           |                  |            | 2                                           |
|           |                  |            | 142                                         |
|           |                  |            | 22                                          |
| Jharkhand |                  |            | 54                                          |
|           |                  |            | 6                                           |
|           |                  |            | 62                                          |
|           |                  |            | 206                                         |
|           |                  |            | 7                                           |
|           |                  |            | 115                                         |
|           |                  |            | 16                                          |
|           |                  |            | 19                                          |
|           |                  |            | 14                                          |
|           |                  |            | 29                                          |
| Karnataka |                  | 139        |                                             |
|           |                  | 19         |                                             |
|           |                  | 114        |                                             |

..

| State          |    | PPE kits   | Health Insurance Coverage (NAMASTE+PMJAY+   |
|----------------|----|------------|---------------------------------------------|
|                |    |            | 95                                          |
|                |    |            | 179                                         |
|                |    |            | 72                                          |
| Kerala         |    |            | 90                                          |
| ıra            |    |            |                                             |
| Ladakh         |    |            |                                             |
| Lakshadweep    |    |            |                                             |
| Madhya Pradesh |    |            |                                             |
|                |    |            | 14                                          |
|                |    |            | 57                                          |
|                |    |            | 293                                         |
|                | 10 |            | 190 9                                       |
|                |    |            | 48                                          |
|                |    |            | 10 32                                       |
|                |    |            | 35                                          |
|                | 44 |            | 29                                          |
|                |    |            | 40                                          |
|                | 86 |            | 75                                          |
|                |    |            | 43                                          |
|                |    |            | 85                                          |
|                | 76 |            | 30                                          |

•

| State       |     | PPE kits   | Health Insurance Coverage (NAMASTE+PMJAY+   |
|-------------|-----|------------|---------------------------------------------|
|             |     | 23         | State Scheme) 14                            |
|             |     | 37         | 34                                          |
|             |     | 30         | 24                                          |
|             |     | 10         | 5                                           |
|             |     | 54         | 36                                          |
|             |     | 15         | 12                                          |
|             |     | 48         | 47                                          |
|             |     | 25         | 20                                          |
|             |     | 161        | 120                                         |
|             |     | 18         | 15                                          |
|             |     | 74         | 43                                          |
| Maharashtra |     | 217        | 202                                         |
|             |     | 38         | 26                                          |
|             |     | 170        | 58                                          |
|             |     | 181        | 87                                          |
|             |     | 37         | 23                                          |
|             |     | 32         | 16                                          |
|             |     | 200        |                                             |
|             |     | 8          |                                             |
|             |     | 10         |                                             |
|             |     | 22         | 244                                         |
|             |     | 233 79     | 59                                          |
|             |     | 249        | 103                                         |
|             |     | 28         | 15                                          |
|             |     | 2643       | 2049                                        |
|             |     | 691        | 584                                         |
|             |     | 113        | 68                                          |
|             |     | 238        |                                             |
|             |     | 36         |                                             |
|             |     | 57         |                                             |
|             |     | 23         | 13 413                                      |
|             |     | 662 231    | 168                                         |
|             |     | 23         | 20                                          |
|             |     | 91         | 94                                          |
|             |     | 145        | 102                                         |
| Manipur     |     |            |                                             |
|             | m ∞ |            |                                             |
| Meghalaya   |     |            |                                             |
| Mizoram     |     |            |                                             |

...

| State      | SSWS Validated   | PPE kits   | / Health Insurance Coverage (NAMASTE+PMJAY+ State Scheme)   |
|------------|------------------|------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
|            | 14               | 14         | 13                                                          |
|            |                  | 6          | 5                                                           |
|            | 15               | 15         |                                                             |
|            | 14               | 14         | 11                                                          |
|            | 15               | 15         | 13                                                          |
|            |                  | 6          | 4                                                           |
|            |                  | 9          |                                                             |
| Nagaland   | 5                | 5          |                                                             |
|            | 5                | 5          | 4                                                           |
|            |                  | 12         | 12                                                          |
|            |                  | 20         | 16                                                          |
|            | 2                | 2          | 0                                                           |
|            |                  | 7          |                                                             |
|            |                  | 2          |                                                             |
|            | 10               | 10         |                                                             |
|            |                  | 8          |                                                             |
| Odisha     |                  |            |                                                             |
| Puducherry |                  |            |                                                             |
|            | 187              |            |                                                             |
| Punjab     | 381              |            |                                                             |
|            |                  | 88         |                                                             |

•

| State      | SSWs Validated   | PPE kits   | Health Insurance Coverage (NAMASTE+PMJAY+ State   |
|------------|------------------|------------|---------------------------------------------------|
|            | 2140             |            | leme)                                             |
|            | 53               |            |                                                   |
|            | 95               |            |                                                   |
|            | 88               |            |                                                   |
|            | 40               |            |                                                   |
|            | 175              |            |                                                   |
|            | 35               |            |                                                   |
| Rajasthan  |                  |            |                                                   |
| Sikkim     |                  |            |                                                   |
| Tamil Nadu |                  |            |                                                   |

•

| State     |    |    | PPE kits   | Health Insurance Coverage (NAMASTE+PMJAY+ State Scheme   |
|-----------|----|----|------------|----------------------------------------------------------|
|           |    |    |            | 57                                                       |
|           |    |    |            | 69                                                       |
|           |    |    |            | 395                                                      |
|           |    |    |            | 70                                                       |
|           |    |    |            | 59                                                       |
|           |    |    |            | 73                                                       |
|           |    |    |            | 10                                                       |
|           |    |    |            | 178                                                      |
|           |    |    |            | 47                                                       |
|           |    |    |            | 39                                                       |
|           |    |    |            | 145                                                      |
|           |    |    |            | 83                                                       |
|           |    |    |            | 114                                                      |
| Telangana |    |    |            |                                                          |
|           |    | 84 |            |                                                          |
|           |    | 80 |            |                                                          |
|           | 5: |    |            |                                                          |
|           |    |    |            | 271                                                      |

| State         | SSWs Validated   | PPE kits   | Health Insurance Coverage (NAMASTE+PMJAY+ State Scheme)   |
|---------------|------------------|------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|
| Tripura       | 55               |            |                                                           |
|               | 20               |            |                                                           |
|               | 15               |            |                                                           |
|               | 16               |            |                                                           |
|               | 13               |            |                                                           |
|               | 22               |            |                                                           |
|               | 8                |            |                                                           |
|               | 203              |            |                                                           |
| Uttar Pradesh | 487              |            |                                                           |
|               | 376              |            |                                                           |
|               | 95               |            |                                                           |
|               | 24               |            |                                                           |
|               | 128              |            |                                                           |
|               | 60               |            |                                                           |
|               | 134              |            |                                                           |
|               | 151              |            |                                                           |
|               | 76               |            |                                                           |
|               | 78               |            |                                                           |
|               | 72 99            |            |                                                           |
|               | 122              |            |                                                           |
|               | 144              |            |                                                           |
|               | 29               |            |                                                           |
|               |                  | 235        |                                                           |
|               | 144              | 142        |                                                           |

| State       |    | PPE kits   | Health Insurance Coverage (NAMASTE+PMJAY+ State Scheme)   |
|-------------|----|------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|             |    |            | 347                                                       |
|             | 90 |            | 84                                                        |
|             |    |            | 278                                                       |
|             | 99 |            | 87                                                        |
|             | 92 |            | 68                                                        |
|             |    |            | 121                                                       |
|             |    |            | 448                                                       |
|             |    |            | 82                                                        |
|             |    |            | 136                                                       |
|             |    |            | 213                                                       |
|             |    |            | 112                                                       |
|             | 69 |            | 52                                                        |
|             |    |            | 142                                                       |
|             | 71 |            | 69                                                        |
|             | 38 |            | 36                                                        |
|             |    |            | 140                                                       |
|             |    |            | 42                                                        |
| Uttarakhand |    |            |                                                           |
| West Bengal |    |            |                                                           |
|             |    |            | 419 276                                                   |
|             |    |            | 130                                                       |
|             |    |            | 138                                                       |
|             |    |            | 310                                                       |
| Grand Total |    |            | 152 71268                                                 |

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