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 in Odisha on August 22, 2026. The workshop was graced by Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Odisha, and attended by Secretary Sudhansh Pant of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, along with other senior officials including Smt. Anu Garg (Chief Secretary, Govt. of Odisha), Smt. Usha Padhee (Additional Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department), and representatives from CPHEEO, WATCO, and NSKFDC.
Secretary Sudhansh Pant reiterated that achieving zero fatalities in sanitation work is a core national priority under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasizing the need for a whole-of-government approach to ensure safe, systematic, and dignified sanitation services. He highlighted that the 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.
The NAMASTE scheme has been extended up to 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 provided a platform for stakeholders including Urban Local Bodies, sanitation-sector experts, manufacturers, technology providers, civil society organizations, and sanitation workers to share experiences, showcase innovations, and discuss practical solutions for safe sanitation operations.
Secretary Pant visited the safety devices and equipment marketplace, interacting with stakeholders showcasing technologies and equipment designed to enhance the safety and efficiency of sanitation workers. He also visited stalls 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 event brought together representatives from the Government of India, Government of Odisha, Urban Local Bodies, CPHEEO, sanitation-sector institutions, civil society organizations, technology providers, and sanitation workers, underscoring the importance of coordinated action to eliminate hazardous manual sanitation practices.
The workshop reaffirmed the collective commitment to building a safe, dignified, technology-driven, and sustainable sanitation ecosystem where no sanitation worker loses their life while performing duties. The Mission Zero approach seeks to transform sanitation work through mechanization, institutional preparedness, worker safety, social security, and livelihood support.