Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Ramdas Athawale inaugurated the distribution of NAMASTE Cards to waste pickers of the MCD Najafgarh Zone at a program held at the MCD Community Hall, Matiala, New Delhi. The event, which saw participation from more than 300 waste pickers, also included the distribution of Ayushman Cards, extending healthcare coverage benefits to this workforce.
In his address, Minister Athawale recognized the essential contribution of waste pickers to the nation's sanitation and public health efforts, describing their work as vital to keeping Indian cities clean. He assured them of the government's full cooperation and continued support in improving their working conditions and access to welfare schemes.
The National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment implemented to ensure safety, dignity, and socio-economic upliftment of sanitation workers, including sewer and septic tank workers and waste pickers. The scheme focuses on occupational safety, formal worker recognition, access to healthcare and social security benefits, skill development, and mechanization of hazardous sanitation work, with the ultimate aim of eliminating hazardous manual cleaning practices across India.