A scheme, National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) has been formulated. The process of extending the Scheme to all the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of the country has been initiated. Main features of the Scheme to be implemented in all ULBs are:

1. Identification: NAMASTE envisages profiling of the Sewer/Septic Tank Workers (SSWs).
2. Occupational Training and distribution of PPE Kits to SSWs
3. Assistance for Safety Devices to Emergency Sanitation Response Units (ESRUs)
4. Extending Health Insurance Scheme Benefits to identified SSWs and their families under the Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
5. Livelihood Assistance: To promote mechanization and enterprise development by providing funding support and subsidy (capital +interest) to the sanitation workers, to procure sanitation related equipments/vehicles.
6. IEC Campaign: Massive IEC campaigns would be undertaken jointly by the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) & National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) to spread awareness about the interventions of NAMASTE and citizen centric awareness programmes communicating that sewer/septic tank cleaning services are to be obtained only from organized service providers duly empanelled with ULBs/ERSUs.

Initially it was decided to cover five hundred AMRUT Cities now we are covering all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in a phased manner.

The scheme is proposed to be undertaken during 2023-24 to 2025-26. Allocated budget for the year 2023-24 is Rs. 97.41 crore. It is a Central Sector Scheme as such there is no State-wise allocation.

City centric approach has been taken to provide for mechanised cleaning equipment and trained manpower in the ULBs.

This information was given by Minister of state for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Ramdas Athawale in the Lok Sabha in a written reply today.

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MG/RNM