About

• The NAMASTE (National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem) scheme was launched in 2023 to ensure safety and dignity of sanitation workers. 
• The focus is on prevention of hazardous cleaning and promotion of safe cleaning practices through trained and certified sanitation workers. 
• The objective of the scheme is to formalize and rehabilitate the persons engaged in hazardous cleaning of sewer and septic tanks. 
• The intended outcome of NAMASTE scheme is to achieve zero fatalities in sanitation work; elimination of direct contact of sanitation workers with human faecal matter; all cleaning operations to be done through safety devices; all sanitation work to be  performed by skilled workers; strengthening and capacitating of Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs) and empowerment of sanitation workers through formation of Self-Help Groups and entrepreneurship etc. 
• The scheme is jointly being implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
• The National Safai Karmacharis Finance Development Corporation (NSKFDC) under the MoSJE is the implementing agency of ‘NAMASTE’.