Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale inaugurated a program to issue NAMASTE Cards to waste-picking workers of the Najafgarh Zone at an event held at the MCD Community Centre in Matiala. Ayushman cards were also distributed to the workers present on the occasion.
The ‘NAMASTE’ card is a step towards providing waste pickers with formal identification and connecting them with various government welfare schemes. The initiative is part of the National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE), which aims to improve the safety, dignity and socio-economic well-being of sanitation workers.
Addressing the event, Ramdas Athawale commended the contribution of waste pickers in keeping Indian cities clean. He stated that the work of these workers is vital for sanitation and public health systems. He assured the workers of the government’s continued support to improve their working conditions and ensure they benefit from government schemes.
Waste pickers, alongside sewer and septic tank workers, have been included under the ‘NAMASTE’ scheme. The scheme aims to ensure the formal identification of sanitation workers and their access to occupational safety, health services, and social security benefits. More than 300 waste pickers from the Najafgarh zone participated in this program.
The scheme also emphasizes skill development for waste pickers, the availability of personal protective equipment, and health safety. Additionally, it aims to eliminate unsafe manual cleaning practices by promoting mechanization in hazardous sanitation tasks.
‘NAMASTE’ is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Through this initiative, the focus is on providing a safe working environment for sanitation workers, improving their socio-economic status, and linking them with various government welfare schemes.
