The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has implemented comprehensive measures to strengthen the safety, welfare, and dignity of sanitation workers across India. Through systematic worker profiling, the ministry has identified 90,942 sewer and septic tank workers, with 89,248 validated through official processes. Of these, 87,037 workers have been provided with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits, while 76,247 workers have been covered under various health insurance schemes to ensure healthcare protection and safer working conditions.
To support mechanized sanitation operations and create livelihood opportunities, the ministry has released an upfront capital subsidy of ₹34.17 crore to 983 sanitation workers for the procurement of 364 sanitation vehicles. Additionally, 753 safety devices have been dispatched to Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs) established in larger municipal corporations and districts to strengthen safety infrastructure.
The ministry has conducted 1,562 workshops across the country focused on preventing hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks, emphasizing safety awareness and proper procedures. In a significant expansion of the scheme, waste pickers engaged in solid waste management in both urban and rural areas were included starting June 2024, extending welfare and safety support to this previously excluded worker group.
For waste pickers, the ministry has profiled 378,547 individuals, with 252,163 validated through e-KYC processes. From this group, 131,864 waste pickers have received PPE kits, and data for 124,835 waste pickers has been processed for the generation of Ayushman Cards, ensuring access to healthcare benefits. These measures collectively represent the ministry's comprehensive approach to improving occupational safety, expanding access to welfare benefits, and upholding the dignity of workers engaged in sanitation and solid waste management services.