Tue Dec 17 11:00:38 UTC 2024: ## Overwhelming Majority of Indian Sewer Workers Belong to Scheduled Castes: Government Data

**New Delhi, December 17, 2024** – A staggering 67% of India’s sewer and septic tank workers (SSWs) are from the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, according to data presented to the Lok Sabha by Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale. The figures, derived from the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme, reveal that out of 54,574 validated SSW profiles, 37,060 belong to the SC category. Other Backward Classes (OBCs) comprise 15.73% of the workforce, Scheduled Tribes (STs) account for 8.31%, and only 8.05% are from the General category.

The NAMASTE scheme, a joint initiative of the Ministries of Social Justice and Empowerment and Housing and Urban Affairs, aims to improve the safety and well-being of sanitation workers. Since its launch, the scheme has distributed over 16,000 PPE kits, provided health insurance to over 13,000 workers, and offered substantial capital subsidies for sanitation-related and alternative employment projects. Furthermore, over 800 awareness workshops have been conducted to highlight the dangers of unsafe sanitation practices.

The government’s commitment to mechanizing sanitation work is also evident. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban (SBM-U) 2.0, ₹371 crore has been allocated to procure 2,585 desludging vehicles across various states and union territories. While data integration for some states is ongoing, the released figures highlight a significant disparity in the representation of marginalized communities within the sanitation workforce, underscoring the urgent need for continued efforts towards equitable and safe sanitation practices in India.

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