The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment organised a national-level SafaiMitra Suraksha Evam Samman Shivir that reached over 3.69 lakh sanitation workers across more than 3,800 urban and rural local bodies. The initiative brought together health check-ups, safety equipment distribution, welfare card registrations and scheme enrollments at a single platform for sanitation workers, who face occupational hazards in their daily work.
The Shivir was conducted in both hybrid and physical modes across participating locations, with major participation from states including Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Bihar. The programme aimed to recognise the contribution of sanitation workers while strengthening their access to healthcare, safety measures and social security benefits.
Key facts
- 3,69,469 sanitation workers attended the Shivir across participating locations
- 3,02,958 health check-ups were facilitated during the initiative
- 2,24,521 NAMASTE Cards were downloaded by beneficiaries
- 57,967 Ayushman Cards were distributed for healthcare access
- 1,28,928 Personal Protective Equipment kits were distributed
- 1,53,253 registrations were completed under various government schemes
- Over 3,800 Urban Local Bodies, Rural Local Bodies and line departments participated
- States with significant participation included Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Bihar and Meghalaya
What services were provided
The Shivir functioned as a consolidated service delivery platform for sanitation workers. Health camps were set up to provide free medical check-ups, addressing the occupational health risks that sanitation workers face. Protective equipment distribution ensured workers had access to PPE kits necessary for safe work practices.
Digital welfare cards, including NAMASTE Cards and Ayushman Cards, were made available to enable workers to access healthcare benefits and social protection schemes. The NAMASTE scheme provides welfare and social security benefits specifically for sanitation workers, while Ayushman Cards grant access to cashless healthcare under government health programmes.
The Shivir also facilitated on-the-spot registrations under multiple government schemes, connecting sanitation workers with welfare and social security measures they were previously unaware of or unable to access due to procedural barriers.
Why this matters for sanitation workers
Sanitation workers face unique occupational health risks including exposure to hazardous materials, disease-causing pathogens and unsafe working conditions. The Shivir directly addressed these vulnerabilities by bringing preventive health services and protective equipment to workers at their localities, eliminating the need for workers to travel to distant government offices.
Access to healthcare and welfare cards through a single event simplifies enrollment in social protection schemes. Rather than navigating multiple application processes at different government offices, workers could complete registrations at the Shivir, reducing administrative burden.
The distribution of PPE kits strengthens occupational safety by ensuring workers have the necessary protective gear for safe work practices. The variety of welfare card enrollments opens pathways to government-funded healthcare, income support, disability benefits and pension schemes.
State-level participation and implementation
States played an active role in executing the Shivir at ground level. Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Bihar organised health camps through their municipal corporations, ensuring services reached sanitation workers across major cities and towns.
The involvement of both urban and rural local bodies indicates that the initiative covered sanitation workers in both municipal areas and village-level governance structures. Coordination between central ministries, state governments and local bodies ensured the Shivir achieved widespread coverage.
Government’s approach to sanitation worker welfare
The initiative reflects the government’s policy of recognising sanitation work as essential labour that requires dedicated health, safety and social protection measures. By bringing multiple services to a single location, the government reduced barriers to access and demonstrated a commitment to last-mile service delivery.
The Shivir model combines health promotion, safety enhancement and welfare scheme enrollment, treating sanitation worker welfare as a multi-dimensional challenge requiring coordinated action across different government departments and levels of administration.