04-October-2024-Special-Article

NAMASTE SCHEME: ADDRESSING MANUAL SCAVENGING IN INDIA

The National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme is a collaborative effort by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in India.

Its goal is to eliminate the dehumanising practice of manual scavenging and improve the safety and well-being of sanitation workers. Caste-based occupational segregation, which primarily affects Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC), remains a significant challenge.

Despite legislative prohibitions, manual scavenging persists, and the NAMASTE scheme aims to address this critical issue by promoting mechanisation and providing alternative employment opportunities.

Key Features of the NAMASTE Scheme

• Outlay and Coverage: With a financial allocation of Rs. 349.70 crore, the scheme intends to cover all 4,800+ Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across India by 2025-26.
• Replaces Previous Schemes: It supersedes the Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS), marking a shift towards mechanised solutions and worker safety.
• Focus on Profiling Workers: The scheme includes profiling of Sewer/Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) employed by ULBs to better understand their working conditions and provide necessary interventions.
• Occupational Safety: The workers will receive safety training, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits, and health insurance under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
• Sanitation Entrepreneurs: A key goal is to transform workers into “sanipreneurs”, enabling them to become sanitation entrepreneurs and promote self-employment.
• Elimination of Fatalities: One of the primary objectives is to prevent fatalities during sanitation work by promoting mechanisation and worker safety.

Current Scenario of Manual Scavenging

• Manual Scavenging Definition: Manual scavenging refers to the manual removal of human waste from sewers or septic tanks, a practice banned under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.
• Caste-Based Segregation: Government data reveals that around 92% of the 38,000 manual scavengers profiled across Indian cities belong to marginalised communities like SCs, STs, and OBCs.
• Persisting Challenges: Despite the PEMSR Act, 2013, manual scavenging remains prevalent due to inefficient enforcement of the law and inadequate infrastructure to replace unsafe sanitation practices.

Progress and State-Level Efforts

• Urban Local Bodies (ULBs): As of September 2024, 3,326 ULBs have completed profiling approximately 38,000 sanitation workers. Some ULBs reported no SSWs, while others reported very low numbers.
• State-Level Progress: States like Kerala and Rajasthan have completed the profiling process, while others like Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are still in progress. States like Tamil Nadu and Odisha are running their own separate programs, not reporting to the central government.
• Challenges: Despite these efforts, data from 2019 to 2023 indicates that at least 377 people have died while cleaning sewers and septic tanks across India.

Legal and Constitutional Safeguards

Constitutional Provisions:

• Article 14: Ensures equality before the law and aims to protect manual scavengers from caste-based discrimination.
• Article 16: Promotes equal employment opportunities, especially for marginalised communities like SCs and STs.
• Article 17: Abolishes untouchability, shielding manual scavengers from caste-based exclusion.
• Article 21: Guarantees the right to live with dignity, providing manual scavengers the legal basis to demand better working conditions.
• Article 23: Prohibits forced labour, preventing coercion of manual scavengers into exploitative work.

Legal Frameworks:

• PEMSR Act, 2013: Prohibits manual scavenging and mandates the conversion of insanitary latrines into sanitary ones.
• SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: Criminalises manual scavenging when it involves marginalised groups.

Government Initiatives and Schemes

• Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SESRM): Assists manual scavengers in transitioning to self-employment.
• National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC): Provides financial assistance and loans for the socio-economic upliftment of sanitation workers.
• Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0: Promotes mechanisation in sanitation work and aims to ensure the safety of sanitation workers.
• SafaiMitra Suraksha Challenge: Encourages cities to mechanise sewer cleaning and reduce manual interventions.
• Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM): Promotes the formation of self-help groups (SHGs) among sanitation workers to support their entrepreneurial efforts.

Barriers to Eliminating Manual Scavenging

• Caste-Based Occupation: Caste discrimination perpetuates manual scavenging, with Dalits often facing social exclusion and limited employment options.
• Legal Enforcement Issues: Despite stringent laws, enforcement is weak, and many manual scavengers are not recognised as such, leading to underreporting and lack of protection.
• Educational Discrimination: Children from manual scavenging families often face discrimination in schools, leading to high dropout rates, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and caste-based occupation.
• Lack of Alternatives: Many sanitation workers are trapped in these occupations due to a lack of viable alternatives, and social pressure within their communities.

Challenges in Abolition and Rehabilitation

• Insanitary Latrines: The existence of insanitary latrines perpetuates manual scavenging. Conversion efforts have been slow and inefficient.
• Poor Infrastructure: India’s sewage and drainage systems are underdeveloped, necessitating manual interventions.
• Access to Justice: Manual scavengers face barriers in accessing the justice system, with low conviction rates under the PEMSR Act.
• Inadequate Data Collection: Government surveys have not accurately captured the scale of manual scavenging, making targeted interventions difficult.

Way Forward

• Linking Rehabilitation to Social Security Schemes: Connecting rehabilitation programs to schemes like MNREGA could facilitate better access to alternative employment.
• Improved Coordination: Establishing a coordination committee involving key ministries could streamline efforts to eliminate manual scavenging.
• Railway Reforms: The Indian Railways must phase out manual scavenging by adopting bio-toilets and report progress regularly to ensure transparency.
• Technology Investment: Sufficient funds should be allocated for procuring advanced mechanisation technologies to reduce reliance on manual labour in sanitation work.

Mains question:

1. “Discuss the implications of food loss and waste (FLW) on food security, environmental sustainability, and economic efficiency, and examine the steps India has taken to address this issue.”(150 WORDS)