The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment published a case study demonstrating the impact of the Swachhta Udyami Yojana (SUY) component of the NAMASTE Scheme on sanitation worker Ajay Kumar from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Kumar, a 39-year-old from the Scheduled Caste-Valmiki community, received financial assistance totaling Rs 4,08,500 as upfront capital subsidy on October 11, 2021, to procure a tractor-cum-sewer suction machine for his sanitation operations.
The total project cost was Rs 11,34,000, comprising a loan component of Rs 7,25,500 and the subsidy amount. Kumar pays a monthly installment of Rs 11,460 and has a remaining loan balance of Rs 1,03,000. This mechanization intervention has significantly improved his operational efficiency and service reach under the Municipal Corporation Ghaziabad in the Mohan Nagar area.
Following the assistance, Kumar's monthly income increased to approximately Rs 30,000-Rs 35,000 from previously insufficient earnings. After accounting for monthly installments, operating costs, and household expenses, he is able to save around Rs 10,000-Rs 20,000 monthly. This improved financial position has enabled him to better support his family's needs, including his three daughters' education (aged 13, 11, and 3 years) and his mother's regular dialysis and medical care expenses.
The case study highlights the scheme's focus on promoting mechanization, livelihood enhancement, and dignity among sanitation workers, with Kumar's journey serving as an example of converting practical experience into sustainable self-employment through institutional support and access to productive assets.