New Delhi, Sep 13 (IANS) Union Social Justice and Empowerment Secretary Sudhansh Pant said that nearly 90,000 sewer and septic tank workers have been profiled and validated as part of an initiative to ensure dignity of sanitation workers and provide protective equipment, health insurance coverage and financial assistance.
Pant added that out of 90,942 sewer and septic tank workers who have been profiled, 89,248 have been validated, according to an official statement issued on Sunday.
He said that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits have been provided to 87,037 sanitation workers, while 76,247 workers have been covered under various health insurance schemes that support safer working conditions and access to healthcare protection.
Pant added that a total of 3,78,547 waste pickers have been profiled, of whom 2,52,163 have been validated through e-KYC.
He noted that around 1,31,864 waste pickers have received PPE kits, while the data of 1,24,835 waste pickers has been processed for generation of Ayushman Cards.
The Secretary said that to facilitate access to sanitation vehicles, an upfront capital subsidy of Rs 34.17 crore has been released to 983 sanitation workers for procurement of 364 vehicles.
This assistance supports mechanised sanitation operations and livelihood opportunities for workers, he added.
Pant said that to further strengthen safety infrastructure, 753 safety devices have been dispatched to Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs) established in larger municipal corporations and districts.
He added that alongside financial and welfare support, 1,562 workshops on prevention of hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks have been conducted across the country, the statement said.
The Secretary said that the Scheme’s coverage was expanded in June 2024 to include waste pickers engaged in solid waste management in both urban and rural areas, extending welfare and safety support to this group of workers.
Pant exuded confidence that these measures reflect the Ministry’s efforts to strengthen occupational safety, improve access to welfare benefits and uphold the dignity of workers engaged in sanitation and solid waste management.
–IANS
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