NAMASTE (National Action Plan for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem) scheme

February 2, 2023

In the Union Budget 2023, the Government of India allocated Rs 100 crores for the NAMASTE scheme. With this, the GoI aims to mechanize septic tank cleaning and sewer cleaning in towns and cities. The scheme aims to provide an alternate livelihood to sanitation workers. In addition, NAMASTE will strive to bring behavioral changes to them.

The objective of the scheme

To achieve zero fatalities in the sanitation sector
No sanitation worker will touch or come in direct contact with the fecal matter
The sanitation workers will be encouraged to form Self Help Groups
Ensure the workers have access to alternative livelihoods as mechanization may bring loss of jobs to few in the industry

How will NAMSTE be implemented?

In phase 1, 500 cities are taken. GoI is planning on choosing AMRUT cities first. Also, the first target will be cities whose population is more than one lakh. Ten cities from islands, hilly regions, and tourist destinations will be picked. Bringing changes in tourist destinations in the sewerage sector is very difficult. This is because the carrying capacity of the tourist spots is high. For this reason, the numbers in the tourism sector are very less.

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