Context:

• The NAMASTE scheme will be implemented by the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) for a period of three years from FY 2023-24 to FY 2025-26, with a budget allocation of 349.73 crores.

Key Highlights On NAMASTE Scheme

• Human Centric Approach: The NAMASTE Scheme is a testament to the Government’s human-centric approach where no sanitation workers have to manually engage in the hazardous task of sewer and septic tank cleaning operations.
• Ministries involved: It is launched as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
• Implementing agency: National Safai Karamchari Financial Development Corporation (NSKFDC) would be the implementing agency for NAMASTE.

About NAMASTE SCHEME ( National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem)

• Objective: To stop deaths of Sewers and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) and to promote mechanization of cleaning operations with a vision to reduce hazardous cleaning and ensure the safety of sanitation workers.
• Launched: NAMASTE Scheme was launched in 2022 as a Central Sector Scheme.
• Replaced by: The scheme has replaced the Self-Employment Scheme for the Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS), which was started in 2007.
• Coverage: The scheme is to be implemented in all 4800+ Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of the country, during the three years up to 2025-26.

Features of NAMASTE SCHEME

• Profiling of Sewer/Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) : NAMASTE envisages profiling of the Sewer/Septic Tank Workers (SSWs). List of SSWs would be obtained from the concerned ULBs and thereafter detailed profiling of the SSWs would be undertaken through profiling camps.
• Distribution of Safety Kits: Occupational Safety Training and distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Kits to SSWs
• Assistance to Manual Scavengers: Assistance for Safety Devices to Sanitation Response Units (SRUs) for hazardous cleaning operations.
• Extending Health Insurance Scheme Benefits: For providing a safety net to identified SSWs and their families, they will be covered under the Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
  • The premium for AB-PMJAY for those identified Manual scavengers and SSWs families who are not covered earlier shall be borne under NAMASTE.
• Livelihood Assistance: The Action Plan will promote mechanization and enterprise development. 
• Providing Capital Subsidy: National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC) will provide funding support and capital subsidy to the Manual Scavengers to procure sanitation related equipment and vehicles under Swachhata Udyami Yojana (SUY) 
• Convergence of Programmes of MoSJE & MoHUA: The safety of SSWs is a joint responsibility of MoSJE and MoHUA. 
  • The Action Plan leverages the available financial allocations of existing SRMS, Swachh Bharat Missions (SBM), Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban.

News Source: PIB