What Happened

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment organized a National Workshop on “Mission Zero – Ending Fatalities in Sanitation Work” in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on August 22, 2026. The event, held at the State Convention Centre, Lokseva Bhawan, aimed to strengthen institutional mechanisms, promote appropriate technologies, ensure operational preparedness, and scale up mechanized sanitation services across Indian cities.

Shri Sudhansh Pant, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, stated that achieving zero fatalities in sanitation work is a core national priority under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He called for a whole-of-government approach to ensure safe, systematic, and dignified sanitation services. The workshop also highlighted the NAMASTE and GARIMA schemes, which promote mechanization, occupational safety, health, education, and livelihood opportunities for sanitation workers and their dependents.

Key attendees included Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Minister of Odisha, along with senior officials from central and state governments, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), sanitation-sector experts, manufacturers, technology providers, and civil society organizations. The event provided a platform for stakeholders to share experiences, showcase innovations, and discuss practical solutions for safe sanitation operations. Secretary Pant also visited a marketplace featuring safety devices and equipment, and stalls set up by Waste-to-Wealth Self Help Groups comprising waste pickers and sanitation workers.

Key Facts

  • A National Workshop on “Mission Zero – Ending Fatalities in Sanitation Work” was held on August 22, 2026, in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
  • The workshop was organized by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
  • Shri Sudhansh Pant, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, affirmed that achieving zero fatalities is a core national priority under PM Narendra Modi's vision.
  • The NAMASTE and GARIMA schemes aim to promote mechanization and ensure occupational safety, health, education, and livelihood opportunities for sanitation workers and their dependents.
  • The Swachhata Sarthi/waste picker component, introduced in 2024, extended social and economic empowerment initiatives to waste pickers.
  • The NAMASTE scheme has been extended up to 2031 to ensure systematic sanitation service delivery through Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs).
  • The workshop gathered representatives from the Government of India, Government of Odisha, ULBs, CPHEEO, sanitation-sector institutions, civil society organizations, technology/equipment providers, and sanitation workers.

Why It Matters

This national workshop underscores a concentrated effort to eliminate fatalities in sanitation work, driven by a declared core national priority. The emphasis on mechanization, institutional preparedness, and welfare measures for sanitation workers and their families signifies a strategic shift towards safer and more dignified practices across the country.

What To Watch

Watch for the practical implementation and scaling up of mechanized sanitation services in cities and the saturation of welfare measures for sanitation workers as envisioned by the extended NAMASTE scheme. The effectiveness of Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs) and the continued integration of waste pickers into empowerment initiatives will be key indicators of progress.