The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment held the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign in Budaun, Uttar Pradesh, to recognise and support sanitation workers. Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri B. L. Verma outlined progress under the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme, which aims to improve safety, dignity and economic prospects for people working in sanitation.
What the scheme covers
The NAMASTE Scheme tracks and supports two main groups: sewer and septic tank workers, and waste pickers.
- Nearly 90,157 sewer and septic tank workers have been registered under the scheme. Of these, 87,078 have received personal protective equipment kits and 76,920 have been enrolled in health insurance programmes.
- Around 5,00,013 waste pickers have been registered, with 3,15,593 verified. So far, 1,79,269 waste pickers have been given protective equipment.
- In Budaun specifically, 146 sewer and septic tank workers and 339 waste pickers have completed the verification process.
- At the event, the minister distributed protective equipment to 70 sanitation workers (40 sewer workers and 30 waste pickers). Additionally, 31 workers received Ayushman health insurance cards, and 6 received auto-rickshaw keys.
What this means for you
If you work as a sanitation worker or waste picker, the scheme offers concrete support: safety equipment to protect your health, insurance coverage for medical needs, and in some cases, assistance to start small livelihoods like auto-rickshaw operation. The registration process means your work is now officially recognised and tracked by government authorities, making it easier to access these benefits.