PIB · Government of India ·

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale launches NAMASTE and Ayushman card distribution for waste pickers in New Delhi

Distilled Policy Brief

  • The scheme focuses on occupational safety, formal identification, access to health and social security benefits, skill development, and the mechanisation of hazardous sanitation work to eliminate hazardous manual cleaning practices nationwide.

🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points

The NAMASTE Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment aimed at formal identification, health coverage, and mechanisation of sanitation work for waste pickers and sewer workers.

⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages

Integrating informal waste pickers and sanitation workers into formal social security and occupational health safety frameworks through schemes like NAMASTE is essential for urban sustainability, human dignity, and inclusive growth.

🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill

Social Justice & Schemes

With reference to the 'National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem' (NAMASTE) scheme, consider the following statements: 1. It is implemented as a Central Sector Scheme by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. 2. It provides formal identification, skill development, and health/social security benefits to waste pickers as well as sewer and septic tank workers. 3. It aims to eliminate hazardous manual cleaning practices across the country through the mechanisation of sanitation work. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  • [A] 1 and 2 only
  • [B] 2 and 3 only
  • [C] 1 and 3 only
  • [D] 1, 2 and 3
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
✓ Correct Option: [D] 1, 2 and 3

All three statements are correct. NAMASTE is a Central Sector Scheme under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment aimed at ensuring the safety, dignity, and socio-economic upliftment of sanitation workers, including waste pickers and sewer/septic tank workers. It focuses on formal identification (NAMASTE cards), health coverage (such as Ayushman cards), skill development, and complete mechanisation to eliminate hazardous manual cleaning practices nationwide.

Tark High-Yield Question Bank ⚡ Practice Full Test in Testing Arena ↗

🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)

UPSC Prelims 2021

Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.

Forensic Anchor: Cabinet Allocation of Business Rules & NCAP Framework
Examiner Trap Takeaway: UPSC swapped Central Pollution Control Board role with State Pollution Control Boards for state-level monitoring.

📚 Static Syllabus & Constitutional Linkages

Manual Scavenging and Sanitation Rights: Linked to Constitutional safeguards under Article 17 (Abolition of Untouchability) and Article 21 (Right to Life with Dignity), as well as statutory mandates under the PEMSR Act, 2013.
Central Sector Schemes: Central Sector Schemes are 100% funded and directly implemented by the Central Government, unlike Centrally Sponsored Schemes which feature shared financial burdens between Centre and States.