NAMASTE reveals 91.9% of sewer workers belong to marginalized communities
In an effort to chronicle individuals involved in the hazardous cleaning of septic tanks and sewers, the government has collected data from more than 3,000 urban local bodies across 29 states and union territories. Of the 38,000 workers profiled thus far, 91.9% are from SC, ST, or OBC categories. The data reveals that 68.9% workers belong to the SC community, 14.7% from OBCs, 8.3% from STs, and 8% belong to the general category.
According to data presented in Parliament, 377 laborers died between 2019 and 2023 while carrying out dangerous sewer and septic tank cleaning. The profiling is a part of the NAMASTE initiative of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, which was started to automate sewage cleaning and stop dangerous sewer cleaning methods and more fatalities. In order to do this, the program replaces the previous Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS). Its goal is to improve working conditions and safety for sanitation employees.
However, the government continues to assert that manual scavenging has been eliminated from India and is now concentrating on the dangers of cleaning septic tanks and sewers. Based on the definitions of their Rehabilitation Act and the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers, a distinction has been made here.
NAMASTE serves all categories of workers engaged in sewage cleaning, including machine operators, cleaners, and drivers of desludging trucks, in addition to manual scavengers. It attempts to create a national profile of these workers, instructs them in safe procedures, equips them with safety gear, and offers financial support to help them launch their own sanitation businesses, or "sanipreneurs."
3,326 urban local bodies have started profiling since the scheme's inception by logging about 38,000 SSWs. Actually, 2,364 urban entities reported having fewer than 10 SSWs apiece, and 283 claimed having no SSWs at all. India employs about one lakh core sanitation personnel throughout its 4,800 urban local bodies, according to data from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
To safeguard the welfare and safety of these workers, the NAMASTE program developed into an extensive database. During the 2023–24 fiscal year, 31,999 SSWs were verified, Rs 2.26 crore in capital subsidies for alternative work opportunities were granted to 191 workers and their families, and additional Rs 10.6 crore in subsidies were given for sanitation projects that would benefit 413 workers and their families.
Kerala, Rajasthan, and Jammu & Kashmir are among the twelve states and union territories that have been profiled; 17 more states and territories, including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh, are currently in the process of being profiled. Among the states that run their own programs independently and don't submit data to the federal government are Tamil Nadu and Odisha.
While some states, like Karnataka and Kerala, have outreach initiatives in place to encourage involvement in the profile process, Andhra Pradesh went door-to-door to obtain documented details by visiting homes and workplaces.
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Chandrashekhar Swamiji apologises for remark on denying voting rights to Muslims
"If my statement has upset our Muslim brothers, I deeply regret it."
Bengaluru: Kumara Chandrashekharanath Swamiji, head of the Vishva Okkaliga Mahasansthana Mutt, has expressed regret over his controversial statement suggesting that "Muslims should be denied voting rights."
In a press release, Swamiji clarified, "Muslims are also citizens of this country. Like everyone else, they too have voting rights. If my statement yesterday has caused discomfort to our Muslim brothers, I sincerely apologise for it."
He further added, "Okkaligas are inherently tolerant of all religions. We have always treated people of every faith equally. Our Mutt maintains cordial relations with Muslims, and they frequently visit us. Similarly, we attend their weddings and other joyous occasions. Hence, there is no intolerance towards this community." Swamiji appealed to the public to disregard the controversy surrounding his remark.
The controversial statement was made during a farmers' rally, ‘Raita Gharjana,’ organised by the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Karnataka Pradesh, at Freedom Park, Bengaluru, on Tuesday. Addressing the gathering, Swamiji had said, "A law should be enacted to deny voting rights to the Muslim community, and the Wakf Board should be abolished."
The remark drew widespread criticism from political leaders and the public alike. Following the backlash, Swamiji issued his apology, stating, "Muslims are also citizens of this country. Like everyone else, they too have voting rights. If my statement yesterday has caused discomfort to our Muslim brothers, I sincerely apologise for it."
