Kolkata, July 11: Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Virendra Kumar, will lead a significant event in Kolkata on July 14. This occasion aims to honor sanitation workers and celebrate the third ‘National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem’ (NAMASTE) Day.
According to an official statement, the main event and the ‘Divya Kala Mela’ will be held at Rabindra Sadan in Kolkata, while parallel events will take place across urban local bodies (ULBs) nationwide.
The statement mentioned that besides Union Minister Virendra Kumar, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is also expected to attend the Kolkata event. Other participants will include ministers, MPs, MLAs, senior officials from both central and state governments, representatives from district administrations, the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC), and other dignitaries.
On NAMASTE Day, urban local bodies (ULBs) will organize activities focused on the welfare of sanitation workers. These will include occupational safety training, health check-up camps, facilitation of government benefits, demonstrations of mechanized cleaning equipment and safety gear, and recognition of the contributions of sanitation workers.
The statement emphasized that NAMASTE Day is dedicated to honoring sanitation workers, including sewer and septic tank workers, waste pickers, and manual scavengers, for their crucial role in safeguarding public health and environmental cleanliness.
It further stated that this event reinforces the government’s commitment to enhancing the safety, dignity, and livelihoods of sanitation workers through mechanized cleaning, skill development, protective gear, and sustainable employment opportunities.
The ministry highlighted that this event reflects the government’s dedication to promoting a safe, inclusive, and respectful sanitation ecosystem in the country, prioritizing the welfare of historically marginalized communities.
The statement also noted that this day serves as an opportunity to strengthen the commitment to ensuring the safety, dignity, and well-being of sanitation workers by promoting mechanized cleaning, eliminating hazardous cleaning practices, providing access to protective equipment, and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities through skill development.
NAMASTE Day will also raise awareness about the rights and welfare of sanitation workers, foster respect for their contributions, and reaffirm the nation’s resolve to create a safe, inclusive, and dignified sanitation ecosystem for all.
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment launched the NAMASTE scheme in 2023-24. Its goal is to ensure the dignity, safety, and social security of sanitation workers while empowering them socially and economically.
The expected outcome of the NAMASTE scheme is to achieve zero mortality in sanitation work. The initiative aims to ensure that all cleaning tasks are performed by skilled workers. Its objectives include strengthening and enabling Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs) to safely provide mechanized cleaning services, as well as empowering sanitation workers by forming Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and promoting entrepreneurship.
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