Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar is set to recognize sanitation workers and mark the 3rd National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Day at a significant event in Kolkata on Tuesday. The event, including the Divya Kala Mela, will be hosted at Rabindra Sadan in Kolkata, West Bengal. Concurrent programs will occur in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) nationwide, as per an official statement.
The Kolkata event is expected to see the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendhu Adhikari, along with other dignitaries such as ministers, Members of Parliament, MLAs, and senior officials from both the Centre and the state. Representatives from the district administration, the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC), and various officials are also anticipated to participate.
On NAMASTE Day, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) will conduct various activities aimed at the well-being of sanitation workers. These activities include safety training, health check-up camps, facilitating government entitlements, showcasing mechanised sanitation equipment and safety gear, and acknowledging the contributions of sanitation workers.
NAMASTE Day is a tribute to sanitation workers, recognizing their crucial role in upholding public health and environmental sanitation. The government’s dedication to enhancing their safety, dignity, and livelihoods through mechanised sanitation, skill development, protective equipment, and sustainable employment opportunities is reiterated through this observance.
The day underscores the government’s focus on advancing the welfare of historically marginalized communities while fostering a secure, inclusive, and dignified sanitation environment nationwide. It emphasizes the commitment to ensuring the safety, dignity, and well-being of sanitation workers by promoting mechanised sanitation, eradicating unsafe cleaning practices, providing access to protective gear, skill development, and sustainable job prospects.
NAMASTE Day also acts as a platform to raise awareness about the rights and welfare of sanitation workers, cultivate respect for their contributions, and reaffirm the nation’s determination to establish a safe, inclusive, and dignified sanitation ecosystem for all. The NAMASTE Scheme, launched by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment in 2023-24, aims to safeguard the dignity, safety, and social security of sanitation workers while enhancing their social and economic welfare.
The scheme’s objectives include achieving zero fatalities in sanitation work, eliminating direct contact between sanitation workers and human waste, ensuring all cleaning operations employ safety devices, and having skilled workers perform all sanitation tasks. It also seeks to strengthen Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs) to ensure the safe provision of mechanised sanitation services and empower sanitation workers through Self-Help Groups and entrepreneurship initiatives.
