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Context

• The Government had formulated a scheme “National Action Plan for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE)” and it was in the news.

“National Action Plan for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE)”

About

• “National Action Plan for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE)”, is a joint project of Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

Aim

• NAMASTE aims to create an enabling ecosystem that recognizes Sewer and Septic Tank workers (SSWs) as one of the key contributors in operations and maintenance of sanitation infrastructure (Sewer and Septic Tanks) thereby providing sustainable livelihood and enhancing their occupational safety through capacity building and improved access to safety gear and machines.

Coverage and Outlay

• NAMASTE is to be implemented in all 4800+ ULBs of the country, during the next three years upto 2025-26 with an outlay of around Rs 350.00 crore.

Expected outcomes

• The scheme aims to achieve the following outcomes:
  • Zero fatalities in sanitation work in India.
  • All sanitation work is performed by skilled workers.
  • No sanitation workers come in direct contact with human faecal matter.
  • Sanitation workers are collectivized into Self Help Groups (SHGs) and are empowered to run sanitation enterprises.
  • All Sewer and Septic tank sanitation workers (SSWs) have access to alternative livelihoods.
  • Strengthened supervisory and monitoring systems at national, state and Urban Local Body (ULB) levels to ensure enforcement and monitoring of safe sanitation work.
  • Increased awareness among sanitation services seekers (individuals and institutions) to seek services from registered and skilled sanitation workers.

Implementation

• The National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) is the implementing agency for NAMASTE.

Assistance

• “NAMASTE has a major component of providing concessional loan to sewers and septic tank workers for purchase of machines for cleaning of sewers and septic tanks.

The details of the assistance and major terms and conditions to repay the loan are as follows:-

• Concessional loan upto ₹15.00 lakh would be provided to individual sewer and septic tankers. In case of group, projects costing upto ₹50.00 lakh would be assisted.
• Loan would be provided at a maximum interest rate of 6% p.a.
• The loan would be repaid in 7 years.

The scale of admissible capital subsidy for sanitation related projects is as under:-

• • Project cost up to ₹5.00 lakh - 50% of the project cost.
  • Project cost above ₹5.00 lakh and upto ₹15.00 lakh - ₹2.50 lakh + 25% of the remaining project cost above ₹ 5.00 lakh
  • For Group projects costing upto ₹50.00 lakh with each beneficiary project share maximum upto ₹ 10.00 lakh - Same as above with maximum per member capital subsidy of ₹3.75 lakh and maximum group project subsidy of ₹18.75 lakh.
• Concerned ULB would be pursued to provide work assurance to sanitation worker purchasing the machine.

READ ALL ABOUT MANUAL SCAVENGING:

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/manual-scavenging-in-india

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/manual-scavenging-23

PRACTICE QUESTION Q. What are the Constitutional provisions against manual scavenging in India? Why is manual scavenging still prevalent in India and what is its impact?

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1952044