The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has highlighted the story of a sanitation worker from Uttar Pradesh who transformed his financial situation through support under the Swachhta Udyami Yojana (SUY), a component of the NAMASTE scheme. The case study demonstrates how the government programme assists manual scavengers and sanitation workers in building independent businesses.
The scheme and its support
Chetan Kumar Kaushik, aged 32, operates sewer and septic tank suction services in Ghaziabad. Under the SUY component of NAMASTE, he received financial backing to expand his sanitation enterprise. His project received total support of Rs. 8,90,000, comprising a loan of Rs. 5,42,500 and a capital subsidy of Rs. 3,47,500. This assistance allowed him to strengthen his suction-machine operations and serve a wider area under the Mohan Nagar Zone of Nagar Nigam Ghaziabad.
Before accessing the scheme, Kaushik worked continuously but earned too little to save or grow his business. His situation became more difficult when his mother required extended medical treatment, which he funded from his limited savings. Despite these personal hardships, he continued supporting his family as the sole earner.
With the scheme’s support, his monthly income rose to between Rs. 40,000 and Rs. 50,000. He currently pays a monthly loan instalment of Rs. 12,100, with approximately Rs. 67,000 still outstanding. He expects to clear the entire loan by October 2026.
What this means for you
If you work in manual sanitation or are a manual scavenger seeking to start or expand a business, the SUY scheme under NAMASTE offers both loans and capital subsidies to help you become self-employed. The programme combines financial assistance with business support, enabling workers to move from daily-wage jobs to running their own enterprises. Success stories like this show that the scheme is designed to provide genuine livelihood support, not just temporary relief.