SAFAIMITRA SURAKSHIT SHEHAR

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The Union Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has announced that 500 cities across India have declared themselves as ‘SafaiMitra Surakshit Shehar’.
- These cities have achieved adequacy in terms of institutional capacity, manpower and equipment norms as specified by MoHUA and are providing safe working conditions for SafaiMitras.
The ‘SafaiMitra Surakshit Shehar’ are also promoting sustainable sanitation practices and acting as a catalyst for the transformation of every ‘manhole’ into a ‘machine hole’.
To provide momentum to the ongoing efforts toward mechanization and safety of workers, the government has launched the ‘NAMASTE’ (National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem) Scheme.

NAMASTE scheme

The Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs has announced the ‘NAMASTE scheme’ for cleaning sewers and septic tanks.
NAMASTE (National Action Plan for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem) Scheme is a joint venture between;
- The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
- The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
The main objective of the scheme is to ensure;
- Zero fatalities in sanitation work in India.
- No sanitation workers come in direct contact with human faecal matter.
- All Sewer and Septic tank sanitation workers have access to alternative livelihoods.
The Ministry has announced that;
- They have shortlisted the types of machinery and core equipment required for maintenance works and Safety gear for Safai Mitras.
- Skill Development and training of Safai Mitras to be conducted with the help of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment through the National Safai Karamchari Finance Development Corporation.