Centre set to expand mechanised sanitation scheme to rural India, Pg16

Key Highlights:

• The Centre plans to expand the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme to rural areas, including drain cleaners and workers in Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants.
• The expansion proposal, moved by the Social Justice Ministry, includes an outlay of approximately ₹498.73 crore from the current fiscal year to 2030-31.
• The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has highlighted a high rejection rate for self-employment and capital subsidy applications under the scheme.
• As of March 31, only 810 Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) were approved for capital subsidies, with 147 actually receiving funds.
• The Social Justice Ministry reported 498 deaths across the country due to hazardous sewer and septic tank cleaning between 2019 and June 2026.

Detailed Insights:

• The NAMASTE scheme, launched in July 2023, aims to eliminate hazardous manual cleaning and promote mechanized sanitation practices to ensure the safety and dignity of sanitation workers.
• It is a Central Sector Scheme jointly implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• The scheme initially covered SSWs and was expanded in June 2024 to include waste pickers, with 90,915 SSWs and 1.3 lakh waste pickers profiled so far.
• Key components of the scheme include providing capital subsidies of up to 50% for sanitation-related projects, establishing emergency response sanitation units, and offering training and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• The low approval rate for projects, with only 2,652 projects approved for 58,000 identified manual scavengers, indicates significant implementation challenges.
• The NCSC has repeatedly flagged issues with the rejection of applications under the Safai Udyami Yojana, which provides financial assistance for self-employment.
• Despite the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, which bans manual scavenging, deaths continue to occur, underscoring the need for effective implementation of mechanization and rehabilitation efforts.

Key Concepts Involved:

• National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme: A Central Sector Scheme launched in 2023 to mechanize sanitation work and ensure the safety and dignity of sanitation workers.
• Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013: Legislation that prohibits manual scavenging and mandates the rehabilitation of manual scavengers.
• National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC): A constitutional body under Article 338, responsible for safeguarding the rights and interests of Scheduled Castes and monitoring related safeguards.
• Safai Udyami Yojana: A scheme by the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) providing financial assistance and capital subsidies for sanitation-related self-employment ventures.