Waste-Pickers Enumeration under NAMASTE Scheme

The Union government has released national-level data on the ongoing enumeration of waste-pickers under the NAMASTE scheme.

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National-Level Findings

• Social Composition:
  • 84.5%: SC, ST, OBC (marginalised communities).
  • 10.7%: General category.
• Gender Profile:
  • 48.7% women, 51.3% men, 0.007% transgender.
  • Near gender balance, minimal transgender representation
• State and UT-Level Variations:
• • Delhi and Goa Pattern: General category waste-pickers outnumber those from SC, ST, and OBC communities combined, diverging sharply from the national pattern.
  • West Bengal Trend: 42.4% of all profiled waste-pickers belong to the General category, making it another notable deviation.
  • Regional Inequality Indicator: These State-level variations indicate that the social profile of waste-pickers is influenced by regional labour markets, migration patterns, and urban socio-economic structures.
• Hazardous Cleaning Deaths: Since 2014, 859 deaths due to hazardous sewer and septic tank cleaning have been reported, including 43 deaths in 2025, underscoring the urgency of mechanisation and worker safety

About NAMASTE Scheme (National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem)

• Overview: The NAMASTE Scheme is a human-centric national initiative aimed at eliminating manual engagement of sanitation workers in hazardous sewer and septic tank cleaning by promoting complete mechanisation and ensuring safety, dignity, and livelihood security.
• Launch and Implementation: The scheme is jointly initiated by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs and is being implemented by the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC).
• Type: Central Sector Scheme
• Budget allocation:  349.73 crores for a period of three years from FY 2023-24 to FY 2025-26
• Target Beneficiaries: The scheme targets sewer and septic tank workers across urban India, with an estimated profiling of over one lakh SSWs covering nearly 4,800 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
• SDG Alignment: The scheme aligns with global commitments under the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly 
  • SDG-6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 
  • SDG-8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and 
  • SDG-10 (Reduced Inequalities)
• Objectives of the NAMASTE Scheme: 
  • Formalisation and Empowerment: The scheme aims to formalise, rehabilitate, and empower Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) and Waste Pickers by integrating them into a safe, mechanised sanitation ecosystem.
  • Safety and Dignity: NAMASTE ensures that no sanitation worker comes into direct contact with human waste by promoting mechanised cleaning and certified safety practices.
  • Zero Fatalities Goal: The scheme seeks to achieve zero fatalities in sanitation work through trained personnel, strengthened Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs), and strict safety protocols.
  • Promotion of Sanipreneurship: Sanitation workers are encouraged to form Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and sanitation enterprises, enabling entrepreneurship and long-term livelihood security.

Key Components of the NAMASTE Scheme

• Digital Profiling of SSWs: Sewer and septic tank workers are identified and profiled through a dedicated digital application to ensure inclusion, monitoring, and targeted delivery of benefits.
  • Waste Picker Enumeration App:  launched by India’s Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) in June 2025
• Health Insurance Coverage: All identified SSWs are provided health insurance coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) to safeguard them against health-related financial risks.
• Occupational Safety Training: The scheme provides structured occupational safety training to SSWs and personnel of Sanitation Response Units to ensure safe handling of mechanised sanitation operations.
• Capital Subsidy for Mechanisation: A capital subsidy of up to ₹5 lakh is provided to eligible workers or groups for procuring sanitation-related vehicles and mechanised equipment to eliminate manual cleaning.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): PPE kits are distributed to SSWs to protect them from occupational hazards during sanitation operations.
• Safety Devices for ERSUs: Safety devices are supplied to Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs) to enable safe and rapid response during sanitation-related emergencies.
• IEC and Awareness Campaigns: Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaigns are conducted to raise awareness about sanitation worker safety, dignity, and the need to eradicate manual scavenging.
• For Waste Pickers (Added in 2024): Waste pickers are enumerated and profiled, provided with seasonal and need-based PPE kits, trained in occupational safety and skill development, and covered under PMJAY.

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