News & Announcement
‘NAMASTE Day’ Celebrated to Honour the Contribution of Safaimitras
Gangtok, July 14 (IPR): National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Day was celebrated today at SRPC Conference Hall, GMC Building, Deorali, in the presence of the Minister, Urban Development and Food and Civil Supplies Departments, Mr Bhoj Raj Rai, as the chief guest of the occasion.
NAMASTE Day is observed annually to recognise the invaluable contribution of sanitation workers, including sewer and septic tank workers, waste pickers, and former manual scavengers, to public health and sanitation. Launched in July 2023, the NAMASTE Scheme aims to eliminate hazardous sanitation practices by ensuring zero fatalities in sanitation work, ending direct human contact with faecal matter, and promoting mechanised cleaning through trained personnel equipped with modern safety gear.
In his keynote address, Mr Bhoj Raj Rai expressed gratitude to Safaimitras for their dedicated service, noting that their efforts have significantly contributed to Sikkim's recognition as one of India's pioneering states in cleanliness and sustainability. Describing the occasion as a landmark day for sanitation workers, he emphasised the importance of ensuring their dignity, safety, and well-being.
Highlighting the distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits, the Minister underscored the importance of using protective gear while carrying out sanitation work. He also reiterated the government's commitment to supporting sanitation workers through welfare initiatives, including scholarship schemes for their children.
Speaking on sanitation infrastructure, he advocated reducing dependence on septic tanks in favour of efficient sewage systems. Recalling a past incident involving the explosion of an old septic tank that triggered a forest fire, he stressed the dangers posed by toxic and flammable gases such as hydrogen sulphide, methane, ammonia, and carbon dioxide. He called for greater adoption of mechanised sanitation equipment to eliminate direct human exposure to hazardous waste.
The Minister further informed that, under a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, Toyota will provide mechanised sanitation equipment to the state. These machines will be used for cleaning septic tanks and clearing sewer blockages, thereby significantly reducing the need for manual intervention. He also encouraged the adoption of advanced sanitation technologies and best practices followed in other countries to improve efficiency and worker safety.
Concluding his address, he thanked the Safaimitras for their unwavering service and urged citizens to treat sanitation workers with dignity and respect while actively participating in maintaining clean surroundings.
MLA-cum-Advisor, Urban Development Department, Mr Delay Namgyal Barfungpa, also acknowledged the invaluable contribution of Safaimitras in making Sikkim a model state for cleanliness and sustainability. He encouraged sanitation workers to avail themselves of government welfare schemes, including scholarships and the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), which provides cashless health insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary healthcare.
He also recalled an inspection during which duplicate bleaching powder was detected and stressed the need for stricter quality checks. Urging the public to share responsibility for maintaining cleanliness, he advised sanitation workers to consistently use the PPE kits provided for their safety and hygiene.
Chairperson, Sikkim Commission for Backward Classes, Ms Kabita Sapkota, described the occasion as a historic recognition of the contribution made by Safaimitras. She informed that nearly 92 per cent of sanitation workers belong to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category and encouraged them to utilise available welfare schemes, particularly health insurance and educational scholarships. Emphasising that education is the most effective means of improving socio-economic conditions, she urged eligible workers to ensure their children benefit from scholarship programmes. She also invited OBC sanitation workers to approach the Commission with their grievances.
Special Secretary-cum-Mission Director, Urban Development Department, Mr Jigmee Wangchuk Bhutia, highlighted the Swachhta Udyami Yojana (SUY), a credit-linked subsidy scheme under the NAMASTE initiative. The scheme enables Safai Karamcharis, former manual scavengers who have been rehabilitated and are no longer engaged in manual scavenging and waste pickers to become sanitation entrepreneurs by providing loans and capital subsidies for purchasing mechanised cleaning equipment and vehicles.
He noted that the initiative, launched on October 2, 2014, under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, seeks to promote both cleanliness and sustainable livelihoods for sanitation workers. He further stated that sanitation workers are felicitated annually by the Governor and the Chief Minister on Gandhi Jayanti, with outstanding performers receiving cash awards.
Mr Bhutia also highlighted other cleanliness incentive programmes, including awards for the Cleanest Wards, Best Performing Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Cleanest Gram Panchayat Units, and Cleanest Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), with financial incentives ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹10 lakh.
Special Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Ms Bandana Chettri, delivered a presentation on the scholarship scheme for children of sanitation workers implemented by the department. The scheme is available to full-time students studying in Classes I to X whose parents are engaged in manual scavenging, hazardous cleaning, tanning, flaying, or waste picking, irrespective of caste or religion.
Applicants are required to submit documents including the parent's occupation certificate or NOC, previous year's marksheet, Aadhaar card, bona fide certificate, bank passbook, passport-sized photograph, and fee or hostel receipt, wherever applicable. Under the scheme, day scholars receive ₹3,500 annually, while hostellers studying in Classes III to X receive ₹8,000 per annum.
She informed that the number of beneficiaries has increased from seven in 2022–23 to 36 in 2025–26. Applications for the current academic year may be submitted through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) between June 1 and August 31, 2026. The scheme is jointly funded by the Government of India and the Government of Sikkim in a 90:10 ratio.
Today’s programme commenced with a presentation providing an overview of the NAMASTE Scheme by OSD (SBM-U)-cum-State Nodal Officer, NAMASTE Scheme, Urban Development Department (UDD), Mr Rinzing Tamang.
The programme also witnessed the distribution of PPE kits to five sanitation workers under the Gangtok Municipal Corporation (GMC). Each kit comprised a safety helmet, N95 particulate respirator, gloves, safety shoes, body suit, raincoat, and apron.
Additionally, Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) cards were distributed to two sewer line workers of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department. Sanitation worker, Mr Deo Krishna Sharma, shared his experience of benefiting from the scheme during his child's hospitalisation.
Earlier, the welcome address and vote of thanks were delivered by State Project Manager, NAMASTE Scheme, Mr Beran Rai.
Also present during today’s programme were the Mayor, Gangtok Municipal Corporation, Ms Tshering Palden Bhutia, Chairperson, Urban Development Department, Ms Chung Chung Bhutia, senior officials from various departments and Safai Karamcharis of the Gangtok Municipal Corporation.
NAMASTE Day is observed annually to recognise the invaluable contribution of sanitation workers, including sewer and septic tank workers, waste pickers, and former manual scavengers, to public health and sanitation. Launched in July 2023, the NAMASTE Scheme aims to eliminate hazardous sanitation practices by ensuring zero fatalities in sanitation work, ending direct human contact with faecal matter, and promoting mechanised cleaning through trained personnel equipped with modern safety gear.
In his keynote address, Mr Bhoj Raj Rai expressed gratitude to Safaimitras for their dedicated service, noting that their efforts have significantly contributed to Sikkim's recognition as one of India's pioneering states in cleanliness and sustainability. Describing the occasion as a landmark day for sanitation workers, he emphasised the importance of ensuring their dignity, safety, and well-being.
Highlighting the distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits, the Minister underscored the importance of using protective gear while carrying out sanitation work. He also reiterated the government's commitment to supporting sanitation workers through welfare initiatives, including scholarship schemes for their children.
Speaking on sanitation infrastructure, he advocated reducing dependence on septic tanks in favour of efficient sewage systems. Recalling a past incident involving the explosion of an old septic tank that triggered a forest fire, he stressed the dangers posed by toxic and flammable gases such as hydrogen sulphide, methane, ammonia, and carbon dioxide. He called for greater adoption of mechanised sanitation equipment to eliminate direct human exposure to hazardous waste.
The Minister further informed that, under a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, Toyota will provide mechanised sanitation equipment to the state. These machines will be used for cleaning septic tanks and clearing sewer blockages, thereby significantly reducing the need for manual intervention. He also encouraged the adoption of advanced sanitation technologies and best practices followed in other countries to improve efficiency and worker safety.
Concluding his address, he thanked the Safaimitras for their unwavering service and urged citizens to treat sanitation workers with dignity and respect while actively participating in maintaining clean surroundings.
MLA-cum-Advisor, Urban Development Department, Mr Delay Namgyal Barfungpa, also acknowledged the invaluable contribution of Safaimitras in making Sikkim a model state for cleanliness and sustainability. He encouraged sanitation workers to avail themselves of government welfare schemes, including scholarships and the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), which provides cashless health insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary healthcare.
He also recalled an inspection during which duplicate bleaching powder was detected and stressed the need for stricter quality checks. Urging the public to share responsibility for maintaining cleanliness, he advised sanitation workers to consistently use the PPE kits provided for their safety and hygiene.
Chairperson, Sikkim Commission for Backward Classes, Ms Kabita Sapkota, described the occasion as a historic recognition of the contribution made by Safaimitras. She informed that nearly 92 per cent of sanitation workers belong to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category and encouraged them to utilise available welfare schemes, particularly health insurance and educational scholarships. Emphasising that education is the most effective means of improving socio-economic conditions, she urged eligible workers to ensure their children benefit from scholarship programmes. She also invited OBC sanitation workers to approach the Commission with their grievances.
Special Secretary-cum-Mission Director, Urban Development Department, Mr Jigmee Wangchuk Bhutia, highlighted the Swachhta Udyami Yojana (SUY), a credit-linked subsidy scheme under the NAMASTE initiative. The scheme enables Safai Karamcharis, former manual scavengers who have been rehabilitated and are no longer engaged in manual scavenging and waste pickers to become sanitation entrepreneurs by providing loans and capital subsidies for purchasing mechanised cleaning equipment and vehicles.
He noted that the initiative, launched on October 2, 2014, under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, seeks to promote both cleanliness and sustainable livelihoods for sanitation workers. He further stated that sanitation workers are felicitated annually by the Governor and the Chief Minister on Gandhi Jayanti, with outstanding performers receiving cash awards.
Mr Bhutia also highlighted other cleanliness incentive programmes, including awards for the Cleanest Wards, Best Performing Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Cleanest Gram Panchayat Units, and Cleanest Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), with financial incentives ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹10 lakh.
Special Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Ms Bandana Chettri, delivered a presentation on the scholarship scheme for children of sanitation workers implemented by the department. The scheme is available to full-time students studying in Classes I to X whose parents are engaged in manual scavenging, hazardous cleaning, tanning, flaying, or waste picking, irrespective of caste or religion.
Applicants are required to submit documents including the parent's occupation certificate or NOC, previous year's marksheet, Aadhaar card, bona fide certificate, bank passbook, passport-sized photograph, and fee or hostel receipt, wherever applicable. Under the scheme, day scholars receive ₹3,500 annually, while hostellers studying in Classes III to X receive ₹8,000 per annum.
She informed that the number of beneficiaries has increased from seven in 2022–23 to 36 in 2025–26. Applications for the current academic year may be submitted through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) between June 1 and August 31, 2026. The scheme is jointly funded by the Government of India and the Government of Sikkim in a 90:10 ratio.
Today’s programme commenced with a presentation providing an overview of the NAMASTE Scheme by OSD (SBM-U)-cum-State Nodal Officer, NAMASTE Scheme, Urban Development Department (UDD), Mr Rinzing Tamang.
The programme also witnessed the distribution of PPE kits to five sanitation workers under the Gangtok Municipal Corporation (GMC). Each kit comprised a safety helmet, N95 particulate respirator, gloves, safety shoes, body suit, raincoat, and apron.
Additionally, Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) cards were distributed to two sewer line workers of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department. Sanitation worker, Mr Deo Krishna Sharma, shared his experience of benefiting from the scheme during his child's hospitalisation.
Earlier, the welcome address and vote of thanks were delivered by State Project Manager, NAMASTE Scheme, Mr Beran Rai.
Also present during today’s programme were the Mayor, Gangtok Municipal Corporation, Ms Tshering Palden Bhutia, Chairperson, Urban Development Department, Ms Chung Chung Bhutia, senior officials from various departments and Safai Karamcharis of the Gangtok Municipal Corporation.
