NAMASTE Scheme

Category: Social Justice / Sanitation / Government Schemes

Notes

NAMASTE = National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem

  • Implemented to ensure safety, dignity and social security of sewer and septic tank workers.

  • It aims to eliminate hazardous manual cleaning through mechanisation.

  • It involves the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.

  • It focuses on:

    • Identification of sanitation workers

    • Occupational safety

    • PPE and training

    • Health protection

    • Mechanised sanitation

    • Livelihood support

  • As of 31 December 2025, 89,114 Sewer and Septic Tank Workers had been validated under NAMASTE.

Key Pointers

  • Full form: National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem

  • Target: Sewer/septic tank workers

  • Core principle: Safety + dignity + mechanisation

  • Important law: Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013