10-Feb-2023: Budget Allocation for NAMASTE scheme

• Union Budget 2023-2024 has allocated nearly Rs 100 crore for NAMASTE.
• The government aims to enable 100% mechanical desludging of septic tanks and sewers in all cities and towns.
• The process of extending the Scheme to all the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of the country has been initiated.

NAMASTE Scheme was launched in 2022 as a Central Sector Scheme. The scheme is being undertaken jointly by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE).

Objectives:

• Eradicate unsafe sewer and septic tank cleaning practices.
• Ensure Zero fatalities in sanitation work in India.
• No sanitation workers should come in direct contact with human faecal matter.
• Strengthen supervisory and monitoring systems at National, State and Urban Local Body (ULB) levels.
• Increase awareness among sanitation services seekers to seek services from registered and skilled sanitation workers.
• Collectivising Sanitation workers into Self Help Groups (SHGs) and empowering them to run sanitation enterprises.

Features:

• Identification of Sewer/Septic Tank Workers (SSWs).
• Occupational training and distribution of PPE kits to SSWs.
• Assistance for safety devices to Sanitation Response Units (SRUs).
• Extension of health insurance scheme benefits to identified SSWs and their families under Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
• Livelihood assistance to promote mechanization and enterprise development by providing funding support and subsidy. (capital + interest) to sanitation workers to procure sanitation-related equipment.
• IEC campaign jointly undertaken by ULBs and National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC) to spread awareness about the interventions of NAMASTE.