NAMASTE Scheme
Mechanising Sanitation Work
The National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme was launched in 2022–23 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in convergence with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Its core objective is to eliminate human entry into sewers and septic tanks through complete mechanisation of hazardous cleaning operations.
- NAMASTE profiled 54,574 sewer and septic tank workers, of whom 67% belong to Scheduled Castes.
- The scheme provides: PPE kits, safety equipment, health insurance (ESIC coverage), and livelihood support through subsidised sanitation machinery (jetting machines, suction machines, robotic systems).
- It aims to convert sewer workers into machine operators and entrepreneurs through skill training.
- NAMASTE replaces the Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) while retaining the rehabilitation focus.
- Machines for sewer and septic tank cleaning remain unavailable or inaccessible in many smaller towns, limiting the scheme's reach.
● Tracked since March 17, 2026 · last seen September 22, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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