The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched an occupational safety training programme in West Bengal under the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme. The first batch of sanitation workers from Durgapur Municipal Corporation has begun training, which aims to equip them with safe working practices and knowledge of mechanised sanitation methods.
What the training covers
The occupational safety programme runs for five days with 30 hours of instruction. Each batch accepts up to 45 sanitation workers. Participants will learn about occupational safety, correct use of Personal Protective Equipment, safe working practices, emergency response and mechanised sanitation operations.
Trainees who attend at least 70 per cent of the sessions will receive a certificate and a stipend of Rs 1,000 upon completion. An assessment will be conducted after the training ends.
The training is being rolled out across five municipal corporations in West Bengal in the first phase: Durgapur, Asansol, Bardhaman, Bidhannagar and Chandannagar. It will expand to other municipalities across the state in stages.
West Bengal has already identified 7,630 sewer and septic tank workers and distributed Personal Protective Equipment kits to them. Awareness workshops on hazardous sanitation practices have been conducted across 124 municipalities and three cantonment boards. Identity cards have been issued to sanitation workers, and their blood group details have been recorded in an emergency database.
The CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute is providing technical support and will serve as a centre for sanitation worker safety and mechanisation. This centre will conduct training, test safety equipment, and verify devices used in sanitation work.
What this means for you
If you work as a sanitation worker or sewer cleaner in West Bengal, this training offers a pathway to gain certified safety knowledge and earn a stipend. The programme reflects a shift toward mechanised sanitation that aims to protect you from hazardous manual entry into sewers and septic tanks. Local bodies and contractors in your area are expected to follow these safety standards and provide appropriate equipment.