- The NAMASTE Scheme was launched in July 2023 to improve the safety and livelihoods of sanitation workers.
- It covers Sewer and Septic Tank Workers, waste pickers and identified manual scavengers under applicable components.
- Eligible individual projects can receive a capital subsidy of up to ₹7.50 lakh, while group projects can receive up to ₹25 lakh.
- Eligible workers can get PPE kits, safety training and health insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year.
- NAMASTE helpline at 14473
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Summary of the Scheme
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| Name of Scheme | National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme |
| Launch Year | 2023 |
| Benefits | Up to ₹7.50 lakh individual capital subsidy; ₹25 lakh group subsidy; ₹5 lakh annual health insurance cover; PPE kits and occupational safety training. |
| Beneficiary | Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs), waste pickers, and identified manual scavengers and their eligible dependents. |
| Nodal Agency | National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC) |
| Subscription | Subscribe here to get Update Regarding Scheme |
| Mode of Apply | Through beneficiary identification and profiling by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs); waste pickers are enumerated through designated agencies and verified by ULBs or Gram Panchayats. |
National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme
Sanitation workers who clean sewers and septic tanks, and waste pickers who sort and collect waste, face serious health and safety risks every day. The NAMASTE Scheme, launched in July 2023, aims to cut hazardous cleaning practices, promote mechanised sanitation, and give these workers safer livelihoods. It is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), with the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) as the implementing agency. It covers Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs), and waste pickers were added from FY 2024-25. Identified manual scavengers and their eligible dependents can also get selected rehabilitation benefits carried over from the earlier SRMS.
Key Benefits
- Identification and occupational ID cards to connect workers with welfare benefits
- PPE kits and occupational safety training
- Health insurance of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year under Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY, subject to eligibility
- Capital subsidy for mechanised sanitation equipment and waste collection vehicles
- Safety equipment for Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs)
- Support for waste picker collectives and Dry Waste Collection Centres (DWCCs)
- Rehabilitation benefits for identified manual scavengers and eligible dependents
Registration under NAMASTE does not by itself guarantee every financial benefit.
Financial Assistance at a Glance
1. Swachhata Udyami Yojana (SUY): Sewer and Septic Tank Workers
| Project type | Capital subsidy |
|---|---|
| Individual project | Up to ₹7.50 lakh |
| Group project (up to 5 beneficiaries) | Up to ₹25 lakh |
Subject to eligibility, loan, and project approval conditions.
2. Waste collection vehicles (for DWCCs)
| Vehicle cost | Capital subsidy |
|---|---|
| Up to ₹5 lakh | 50% of project cost |
| Above ₹5 lakh up to ₹15 lakh | ₹2.50 lakh plus 25% of the remaining cost |
A DWCC can receive a maximum of ₹5 lakh, covering up to two vehicles. The subsidy goes to the DWCC project, not to individual waste pickers.
3. Private Sanitation Service Organisations (PSSOs) and private contractors
- 25% of project cost, up to ₹10 lakh per unit
- They must hold an active MoHUA model contract.
4. Training and stipend
- SSWs: ₹1,000 for occupational safety training, including travel
- Waste pickers: ₹1,000 by DBT as wage compensation for the five-day training
- Identified manual scavengers and eligible dependents: ₹3,000 per month during applicable skill development training
These payments are tied to specific training programmes and are not regular monthly allowances. PPE kits and safety devices are in-kind support, not cash.
Who Is Covered?
- Sewer and Septic Tank Workers who empty septic tanks or clean and maintain sewerage networks, whether employed by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), government or parastatal agencies, PSSOs, or private contractors
- Independent SSWs identified and validated through the NAMASTE profiling process
- Informal waste pickers collecting recyclables from streets, households, transfer stations, dumpsites, landfills, and other locations
- Informal waste sorters at processing, recovery, and recycling facilities
- Itinerant waste buyers, subject to identification and verification
- Identified manual scavengers and eligible dependents, for rehabilitation benefits
Waste pickers and sorters must generally have worked in the occupation for at least six months. Occupational proof can include scrap-sale receipts, an endorsement from a scrap dealer or local sanitation staff, or membership of a recognised waste picker organisation. Aadhaar-based e-KYC and other checks may apply.
Documents You May Need
- Aadhaar or another accepted ID, for identity verification and e-KYC
- Proof of sanitation work (employment certificate, ULB record, contractor certificate, or agency endorsement)
- Bank account details or passbook copy, for DBT
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Mobile number
- Proof of waste-picking occupation, where applicable
- Family details, for linking family members to Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY
- Project report, machinery or vehicle quotations, and loan documents, for capital subsidy
- Any extra documents from the bank, State Channelising Agency, ULB, or implementing agency
Not every document is needed for every benefit, so check with your ULB, Gram Panchayat, or NSKFDC.
How to Get Registered
There is no separate online application for every worker. Beneficiaries are identified through profiling and enumeration by local authorities.
Sewer and Septic Tank Workers
- Contact your ULB about NAMASTE profiling and registration camps.
- Attend the profiling camp, where officials collect your personal and employment details.
- Provide Aadhaar and other documents for verification.
- Your details are entered in the NAMASTE Management Information System (MIS).
- Once validated, you can access safety training, PPE kits, and PMJAY health insurance linkage, subject to eligibility.
Waste pickers
- Contact your ULB, Gram Panchayat, or a designated civil society organisation, Common Service Centre, or resource organisation.
- Take part in enumeration through the NAMASTE Waste Picker Enumeration App.
- Provide proof of occupation where required.
- Complete Aadhaar-based e-KYC. Your details go to the ULB or Gram Panchayat for validation.
- After verification, you receive an occupational photo ID card and access to PPE kits, safety training, and PMJAY linkage.
- If you want to work in waste collection or recycling, ask about support through SHGs, waste picker collectives, and DWCCs.
Sanitation business loans and subsidy (SUY)
- Ask your ULB about beneficiary nomination and the Work Assurance Letter.
- Approach a participating bank or State Channelising Agency with your project proposal and loan documents.
- The eligible capital subsidy is processed through the lending and implementing agency’s procedure.
Related Schemes
- VISVAS Yojana: interest subsidy for eligible Safai Karamcharis, waste pickers, and their dependents
- Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana (PM-SYM): pension benefits for eligible unorganised-sector workers, including waste pickers and sanitation workers
Contact
NAMASTE helpline: 14473 (also for waste pickers)
NSKFDC
Phone: 011-26382476, 011-26382477, 011-26382478
Email: nskfdc-msje@nic.in
Address: NSKFDC, NTSC, 3rd Floor, E-Block, NSIC, Okhla Industrial Estate-III, New Delhi 110020