On the occasion of NAMASTE Day (16 July), Union Ministry of State for Social Justice and Empowerment launched national helpline number 14473 for waste pickers. Ministry also distributed PPE kits and Ayushman Bharat cards to Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) and Waste Pickers. This marks a major milestone under the NAMASTE scheme in ensuring dignity, safety, and health protection for sanitation workers.
What is the NAMASTE Scheme?
| Parameter | Details |
| Full Form | National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) |
| Launch Year | 2023, as a Central Sector Scheme |
| Duration | 3 years (2023–24 to 2025–26) |
| Ministries Involved | Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment + Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs |
| Implementing Agency | National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) |
| Coverage | 4800+ Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) |
| Budget Allocation | ₹349.73 crore |
| Goal | To eliminate manual scavenging, formalize SSWs, and promote mechanized sanitation |
| Alignment with SDGs | SDG 6 (Sanitation), SDG 8 (Decent Work), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequality) |
Objectives of NAMASTE
- Achieve zero fatalities in sanitation work
- Promote mechanized cleaning of septic tanks and sewers
- Provide PPE kits, health cover (Ayushman Bharat–PMJAY), safety tools, and training to SSWs and waste pickers
- Encourage “Sani-preneurship”—entrepreneurship among sanitation workers
- Strengthen Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs) in cities
- Promote social inclusion, digital profiling, and financial independence
New Addition in 2025: Support for Waste Pickers
- Enumeration and profiling
- Distribution of PPE kits
- Training in occupational safety
- Coverage under Ayushman Bharat–PMJAY
- Capital subsidy for waste collection vehicles and livelihood projects
Features of 14473 Helpline
- Dedicated national helpline number for waste pickers
- Aimed at:
- Providing quick grievance redressal
- Connecting workers to scheme benefits
- Enabling real-time access to support and services
- Launched as part of the NAMASTE Day 2025 celebrations
Background of NAMASTE Scheme
- Replaces the Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS)
- Focused on:
- Occupational safety
- Livelihood opportunities
- Health protection
- Entrepreneurial empowerment
- SSWs and waste pickers are digitally profiled and mapped for benefit delivery through mobile apps
Why This Development is Significant?
- Launch of helpline 14473 is a direct interface for sanitation workers and waste pickers with the welfare ecosystem
- Enhances ease of access, grievance redressal, and entitlement delivery
- Reflects the government’s move from manual to mechanized, from marginalization to dignity, and from exclusion to inclusion
About Manual Scavenging
| Aspect | Details |
| Definition | Manual cleaning of human waste from sewers, dry latrines, and drains |
| Status in India | Legally prohibited under PEMSR Act, 2013 |
| Why it’s harmful | Involves inhumane, hazardous, and caste-discriminatory practices |
| Government Response | Multiple welfare and rehabilitation schemes launched to eliminate it |
Institutional Mechanisms
- ERSUs (Emergency Response Sanitation Units) for quick response in hazardous work
- IEC campaigns to create awareness and promote dignity
- Subsidy-based sanitation vehicles to enable workers to become self-reliant
Related Schemes
| Scheme | Purpose |
| NSKFDC | Financial & developmental support to safai karamcharis |
| Rashtriya Garima Abhiyan | Social campaign to eradicate manual scavenging |
| Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 | Cleanliness and sanitation infrastructure improvement |
| DAY–NULM | Urban livelihoods support, including to sanitation workers |
| Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge | Promote safety of sewer/septic tank workers |
| Swachhta Abhiyan App | Crowd-sourced reporting of manual scavenging |
| Swachhta Udyami Yojana (SUY) | Financing sanitation-related micro-enterprises |
| National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) | Advisory and monitoring body for worker welfare |