NAMASTE

Imagine a country that has progressed in space exploration, digital infrastructure, and economic reforms — and yet, a section of its population continues to risk their lives daily by cleaning human waste manually. This contradiction lies at the heart of India’s sanitation challenge.

To address this critical issue, the Government of India launched the NAMASTE scheme — an acronym for National Action Plan for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem.

It is not just a scheme; it is a civilizational response to restore the dignity, safety, and rights of sanitation workers — especially those involved in hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks.

Basic Overview (Quick Facts)

Feature	Details
Purpose	Ensuring safety and dignity of sanitation workers
Type	Central Sector Scheme
Nodal Agency	NSKFDC (National Safai Karamchari Finance and Development Corporation)
Tenure	2022-23 to 2025-26

Core Objectives of NAMASTE

The scheme revolves around eight powerful objectives:

1. Zero Fatalities: Ensure that not a single life is lost in sanitation work.
2. No Direct Contact: Sanitation workers should not come into direct contact with human faeces.
3. Empowerment through SHGs: Workers will be collectivized into Self Help Groups and trained to run sanitation enterprises.
4. Alternative Livelihoods: Create pathways for sanitation workers to access non-hazardous employment.
5. Effective Monitoring: A robust three-tier supervisory system will monitor sanitation practices at national, state, and local levels.
6. Awareness among Service Seekers: Encourage individuals and institutions to hire only trained and certified sanitation workers.
7. Rehabilitation: Focused rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers and those involved in hazardous cleaning.
8. Promotion of Mechanised Cleaning: Encourage the use of machines, protective gear, and technology for safe sanitation work.

Background and Evolution

• The roots of NAMASTE lie in the Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS), launched in 2007.
• In 2023, the scheme was rebranded and restructured as NAMASTE — jointly implemented by:
  • Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
  • Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

Geographic Coverage

• Implemented across all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in India (approx. 4800+).
• Also includes para-statal bodies (like Jal Boards) and civilian cantonment areas.
• First phase targets 500 AMRUT cities for convergence.

Convergence with Other Ministries

NAMASTE is a classic example of cooperative federalism and inter-ministerial synergy:

Ministry / Department	Role in NAMASTE
MoHFW	Health insurance under Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) for SSWs and their families
DPIIT	Promote startups and innovation in sanitation technology
DDWS (Jal Shakti)	Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs) in large ULBs for rural peripheries
MoSDE	Skill training for sanitation workers via PMKVY (Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana)

Responsibilities of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)

ULBs play a critical ground-level role in implementing NAMASTE:

• Geo-tagging and database creation of sewer/septic tanks
• Conduct preventive maintenance to avoid emergencies
• Identify city-specific technological solutions
• Set up Faecal Sludge Management Plants where septic tanks are used
• Standardise and enforce design of septic tanks

Institutional Architecture of NAMASTE

✅ Responsible Sanitation Authority (RSA)

• Who heads it? District Magistrate or SDM-level officer
• Key Functions:
  • Issue licenses to Private Sanitation Service Organisations (PSSOs)
  • IEC campaigns to spread awareness
  • Legal authority to oversee Sanitation Response Units (SRUs)

✅ Sanitation Response Unit (SRU)

• Created by: RSA
• Role:
  • Maintain panel of licensed PSSOs
  • Deploy trained Sewer Entry Professionals (SEPs) with machinery
  • Provide 24×7 helpline for sanitation emergencies
• Jurisdiction: Major municipalities

✅ Private Sanitation Service Organisations (PSSOs)

• Mechanised Cleaning: Must employ trained and certified workers using proper equipment
• Manual Cleaning (in unavoidable cases): Safety gear is mandatory

IEC & Monitoring

• Information, Education, Communication (IEC) Campaigns:
  • Run by ULBs and NSKFDC
  • Maximum use of social media to change public attitudes
• Monitoring System:
  • Three-tier working groups at Centre, State, and District levels
  • Conduct quarterly reviews of implementation progress

Conclusion: Why NAMASTE Matters

NAMASTE is not just another government scheme. It is a constitutional and moral imperative.

It seeks to:

• End the dehumanising practice of manual scavenging.
• Establish systemic dignity for sanitation workers.
• Leverage technology, policy, and social awareness to transition India into a more humane society.

It’s a blueprint for transforming our sanitation sector — from a space of neglect to a space of respect, safety, and innovation.