Tue Dec 17 11:28:43 UTC 2024: ## Caste Disparity Revealed in India’s Sanitation Workforce

**New Delhi:** A staggering 67% of India’s sewer and septic tank workers belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, according to government data released today. This revelation comes from a parliamentary response by Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, detailing findings from the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme.

Of the 54,574 validated workers profiled under NAMASTE, 37,060 are from the SC community. Other Backward Classes (OBCs) account for 15.73%, Scheduled Tribes (STs) 8.31%, and only 8.05% are from the General category. The data, which encompasses 33 states and union territories, is still being compiled, with some states yet to fully integrate their data into the central database.

Launched in 2023-24, the NAMASTE scheme aims to improve the safety and well-being of sanitation workers. The government has already distributed 16,791 personal protective equipment (PPE) kits and 43 safety device kits, provided Ayushman health insurance cards to 13,604 workers, and disbursed capital subsidies totaling Rs 13.96 crore for sanitation-related projects. Further support, including Rs 2.85 crore for alternative self-employment, has been allocated to manual scavengers. Over 800 workshops have been conducted to raise awareness about safe sanitation practices.

In parallel efforts to mechanize sanitation, the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban (SBM-U) 2.0 has sanctioned Rs 371 crore for the procurement of 2,585 desludging vehicles across 26 states and union territories. The stark disparity in caste representation highlights the ongoing challenges in ensuring equitable and safe working conditions for all sanitation workers in India.

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