Union Minister Virendra Kumar to honour sanitation workers at Kolkata event on July 14
New Delhi, July 11
Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar will lead a mega event in Kolkata on July 14 to honour sanitation workers and commemorate the 3rd National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem Day, an official said on Saturday.
The main event, along with the Divya Kala Mela, will be held at Rabindra Sadan in Kolkata, West Bengal, while parallel programmes will take place across Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) nationwide, said the official in a statement.
Apart from Union Minister Virendra Kumar, the Kolkata event is likely to be attended by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendhu Adhikari. Ministers, Members of Parliament, MLAs, senior officials from the Centre and the state, district administration representatives, the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) and other dignitaries are also expected to participate, it said.
On NAMASTE Day, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) will organise activities focused on the welfare of sanitation workers, including occupational safety training, health check-up camps, facilitation of government entitlements, demonstrations of mechanised sanitation equipment and safety gear, and recognition of sanitation workers for their contribution.
NAMASTE Day is dedicated to honouring sanitation workers - including sewer and septic tank workers, waste pickers and former manual scavengers - for their vital role in safeguarding public health and environmental sanitation, said the statement.
The observance reinforces the government's commitment to improving their safety, dignity, and livelihoods through mechanised sanitation, skill development, protective equipment, and sustainable employment opportunities, it said.
The ministry said the observance reflects the government's commitment to prioritising the welfare of historically marginalised communities while promoting a safe, inclusive and dignified sanitation ecosystem across the country.
The day reinforces the commitment to ensuring their safety, dignity and well-being by promoting mechanised sanitation, eliminating hazardous cleaning practices, providing access to protective equipment, skill development and sustainable livelihood opportunities, said the statement.
NAMASTE Day also serves as an occasion to raise public awareness of 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 with the aim of ensuring the dignity, safety, and social security of sanitation workers while strengthening them socially and economically.
The intended outcome of the NAMASTE scheme is to achieve zero fatalities in sanitation work; eliminate direct contact between sanitation workers and human faecal matter; and ensure that all cleaning operations are done through safety devices.
The scheme also aims for all sanitation work to be performed by skilled workers, and its objectives include strengthening and capacitating Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs) to ensure the safe delivery of mechanised sanitation services, and empowering sanitation workers through the formation of Self-Help Groups and entrepreneurship.
— IANS
Reader Comments
While I appreciate the effort, I'm skeptical. Will this actually stop the manual scavenging deaths we hear about every year? The real test will be if ULBs enforce mechanization and provide protective gear consistently. Also, Suvendu Adhikari attending—let's see if politics takes a backseat here or not.
NAMASTE Day in Kolkata—fitting since this city has a long history of labor movements and caste struggles. But I hope the government doesn't just celebrate one day and ignore the workers the rest of the year. Real dignity means fair wages, permanent jobs, and no more hazardous manual cleaning.
Superb! Our sanitation workers are unsung heroes—they kept our cities clean during COVID while many of us were safe at home. Glad to see this focus on mechanized sanitation and skill development. The ERSUs mentioned are crucial; we need quick response teams for sewer emergencies. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
As someone from a family that was once associated with sanitation work, this is heartening. But I worry about the ground reality—many workers in smaller towns still use manual methods because municipalities don't provide equipment. Hope this program reaches panchayats too, not just big cities.
Respectful criticism: While the NAMASTE scheme's goals are noble, we've had similar announcements before (like Swachh Bharat). The key is implementation and monitoring. Are there any penalties for ULBs that don't mechanize? Without accountability, this is just another paper promise. Still, I hope it works.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.