NAMASTE Scheme in UP: Health and Safety Support for 11,900+ Sanitation Workers

National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme in Uttar Pradesh is making good progress in protecting the safety, health, and wellbeing of sanitation workers. This central scheme focuses on protecting workers with PPE kits, providing Ayushman health cards, and skill training to support the community socially and economically. Along with mechanised sanitation tools, workers are getting access to advanced safety training and financial opportunities.

Helping Sanitation Workers Through the NAMASTE Scheme

The NAMASTE Scheme, run together by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, is an important program aiming to end manual scavenging and support dignified, contactless, mechanised sanitation work. It addresses long-standing problems faced by sewer-septic tank sanitation workers (SSWs) and waste pickers by improving their safety, health coverage, and economic opportunities.

Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, BL Verma, said that the scheme follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. The scheme provides not just equipment and health benefits but also a wider plan for social and economic growth through better infrastructure and training.

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Providing Ayushman Cards and PPE Kits in Uttar Pradesh

In Uttar Pradesh, good progress has been made under the NAMASTE Scheme. So far, 11,969 sewer-septic tank workers have been identified and registered. Specifically, in Lucknow, 933 SSWs and 1,563 waste pickers have been registered and received benefits.

The scheme makes sure PPE kits and Ayushman health cards reach workers directly, improving their protection against health risks from dangerous sanitation work. For example, 20 sewer workers and 20 waste pickers recently got PPE kits, while 24 sanitation workers received Ayushman health cards and safety gear during the NAMASTE Diwas program held at Indira Bhawan.

Parameter	Count/Details
SSWs Profiled in UP	11,969
SSWs Profiled in Lucknow	933
Waste Pickers Profiled in Lucknow	1,563
Helpline for Waste Pickers	14473
National PPE Kits Distribution	45,871 workers
Ayushman Cards Provided Nationally	40,166 workers

Mechanised Sanitation and Skill Development Efforts

The NAMASTE Scheme is also leading the use of mechanised sanitation tools to reduce human contact during cleaning. Subsidised vehicles and modern machines help make sanitation work safer and more efficient.

A special part of the scheme is the use of AR-VR-based safety training modules, started during the NAMASTE Diwas event. These new tools let workers practice safety in a virtual, risk-free setting. Also, a dedicated helpline (14473) was set up to give waste pickers quick support and information.

Financial help is another key part; the scheme provides funds to help sanitation workers start their own sanitation businesses. This encourages entrepreneurship in the community, promoting financial independence and more stable livelihoods.

Also, awareness campaigns like a fashion show were held to show the importance of safety gear for sanitation workers, making the message interesting and visible to the public.

With these combined efforts, the NAMASTE Scheme in Uttar Pradesh is truly changing the welfare and working conditions of sanitation workers, creating a safer, dignified, and stronger future for them.

For more information, visit the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment website or call the helpline 14473.