The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, published a press release on 25 August 2026 as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, detailing the transformation of Sushil Kumar Sharma's livelihood through the NAMASTE–SUY (Swachhta Udyami Yojana) initiative. Sushil Kumar Sharma, a 32-year-old resident of Ward No. 23 near Loyalka School, Rajura, Pilani, in Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan, is a graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree and the principal earning member of his modest family, supporting elderly parents and having fulfilled responsibilities for his three married sisters. Due to poor financial circumstances and his father's health, he discontinued studies and worked as an outsourced sewer-cleaning worker for Nagar Palika Vidya Vihar, Pilani, earning approximately ₹15,000 per month, while facing unstable employment, occupational hardship, limited capital access, and social stigma.
Under the NAMASTE–SUY scheme, Sushil received assistance to procure a tractor with a suction tanker for mechanised sewer and septic-tank cleaning services. The project, supported on 15 January 2026, had a total cost of ₹10.70 lakh, financed through a loan of ₹5.35 lakh and a capital subsidy of ₹5.35 lakh. This enabled his transition from outsourced work to self-employed sanitation entrepreneurship, making operations more efficient, reducing physical strain, and providing greater control over work.
As a result, Sushil's monthly income increased from approximately ₹15,000 to ₹30,000–₹35,000, strengthening his financial position and allowing better support for his family with greater confidence. He now owns and operates a mechanised sanitation enterprise, achieving stability, self-reliance, and social respect. The initiative demonstrates how financial assistance and access to modern equipment can convert occupational experience into sustainable entrepreneurship, promoting safety, dignity, and economic empowerment among sanitation workers.