The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has highlighted how its NAMASTE Scheme, specifically through the Swachhta Udyami Yojana (SUY) component, is helping sanitation workers transition from unsafe manual labour to owning and operating mechanised equipment. The scheme provides financial support to enable workers to become independent entrepreneurs in the sanitation sector.
One beneficiary, Himanshu, a 25-year-old from Ghaziabad, received assistance to purchase a tractor-cum-suction machine, moving away from contractor-dependent sewer and septic tank cleaning work.
How the scheme worked for Himanshu
Himanshu came from the OBC Lohar community and had grown up in financial hardship. He began sanitation work as a contractor’s employee, earning irregular wages while performing physically demanding and unsafe tasks. He wanted to become self-employed but lacked the capital to purchase modern equipment.
Under NAMASTE-SUY, Himanshu received financial assistance in August 2025 for his tractor-cum-suction machine. The support structure comprised:
- Total project cost: Rs 10,70,400
- Loan component: Rs 6,74,200
- Upfront capital subsidy: Rs 3,96,200
- Monthly EMI on the loan: Rs 15,059
With the equipment, he began operating mechanised sanitation services independently in nearby areas around Ghaziabad.
What this means for you
If you work as a sanitation labourer in unsafe conditions and lack capital to buy equipment, NAMASTE-SUY offers a structured pathway to self-employment. The scheme combines a combination of subsidy and loan support, reducing the financial burden on workers. Himanshu’s experience shows that after covering operational costs and loan repayment, mechanised operators can earn between Rs 25,000 and Rs 35,000 monthly, with income rising during peak seasons. Beyond income, the transition offers safer working conditions, independence from contractors and improved social standing in your community.