The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment organized a National Workshop on "Mission Zero: Ending Fatalities in Sanitation Work" at the State Convention Centre, Lokseva Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, Odisha on August 22, 2026. The workshop was attended by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Secretary of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Sudhansh Pant, Chief Secretary of Odisha Anu Garg, Additional Chief Secretary of Housing & Urban Development Usha Padhee, and other senior officials from central and state governments, Urban Local Bodies, and sanitation-sector institutions.
Secretary Sudhansh Pant emphasized that achieving zero fatalities in sanitation work is a core national priority under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision, requiring a whole-of-government approach to ensure safe, systematic and dignified sanitation services. He highlighted that NAMASTE and GARIMA schemes are being implemented to promote mechanization and ensure occupational safety, health, education and livelihood opportunities for sanitation workers and their dependents. The Swachhata Sarthi/waste picker component, introduced in 2024, has further strengthened the framework by bringing waste pickers into social and economic empowerment initiatives.
Notably, the NAMASTE scheme has been extended until 2031 with the objective of ensuring systematic sanitation service delivery through Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs), advancing the Mission Zero agenda and achieving saturation of welfare measures for sanitation workers and their families. The workshop focused on strengthening institutional mechanisms, promoting appropriate technologies, ensuring operational preparedness and scaling up mechanized sanitation services across cities.
The event featured a safety devices and equipment marketplace where Secretary Pant interacted with stakeholders showcasing technologies and equipment designed to enhance safety and efficiency of sanitation workers. Stalls were also set up by Waste-to-Wealth Self Help Groups comprising waste pickers and sanitation workers, highlighting opportunities for livelihood generation, entrepreneurship and sustainable waste management. The participation of diverse stakeholders underscored the importance of coordinated action among governments, ULBs, technology providers and communities to eliminate hazardous manual sanitation practices.