Mission Zero: Ending Fatalities in Sanitation Work
Prelims:
Government
initiatives
Mains:
GS Paper II:
Government policies and interventions, GS Paper III: Infrastructure
Current affairs:
A
National Workshop on “Mission Zero” was held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha,
to promote mechanised and technology-driven sanitation, strengthen
worker safety and institutional preparedness, and achieve zero fatalities in
sanitation work.
At a glance:
Mission Zero – Key Approach:
1.
Zero
Fatalities: The central
objective is to ensure that no sanitation worker loses their life while
performing sanitation duties.
2.
Mechanisation: Promote and scale up mechanised
sanitation services to eliminate hazardous manual sanitation practices.
3.
Institutional
Preparedness:
Strengthen institutional mechanisms and improve operational preparedness
for safe sanitation services.
4.
Technology
Adoption: Encourage the
use of appropriate safety devices, equipment and technologies to improve
worker safety and efficiency.
5.
Dignified
Sanitation: Build a
sanitation ecosystem that is safe, systematic, dignified, technology-driven
and sustainable.
Role of NAMASTE & GARIMA:
1.
Worker
Safety: NAMASTE and
GARIMA seek to strengthen occupational safety and health of sanitation
workers.
2.
Mechanised
Operations: The schemes
promote mechanisation of sanitation work, reducing workers' exposure to
hazardous practices.
3.
Social
Empowerment: They
provide support relating to education and livelihood opportunities for
sanitation workers and their dependents.
4.
Waste
Pickers: The Swachhata
Sarthi/waste picker component, introduced in 2024, brings waste
pickers within the framework of social and economic empowerment initiatives.
5.
NAMASTE
Extension: NAMASTE has
been extended up to 2031 to strengthen systematic sanitation service
delivery and achieve saturation of welfare measures for sanitation workers and
their families.
Institutional & Technology-Based Measures:
1.
Emergency
Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs): These are intended to ensure systematic sanitation service
delivery under NAMASTE.
2.
Safety
Equipment: Technologies
and equipment are being promoted to enhance the safety and efficiency of
sanitation workers.
3.
Innovation: The workshop provided a platform to
showcase innovations and identify practical solutions for safer sanitation
operations.
4.
Livelihood
Support: Waste-to-Wealth
Self Help Groups involving waste pickers and sanitation workers can promote
livelihood generation, entrepreneurship and sustainable waste management.
Significance:
1.
Whole-of-Government
Approach: Coordinated
action among the Union and State governments, ULBs and other stakeholders
is essential for achieving zero fatalities.
2.
Worker
Dignity: Mechanisation
and occupational safety can help create safer and more dignified working
conditions.
3.
Social
Security: Welfare
measures extend beyond workplace safety to include health, education and
livelihood support.
4.
Sustainable
Sanitation: Integration
of technology, mechanisation, institutional preparedness and worker welfare
supports a sustainable sanitation ecosystem.
5.
Inclusive
Implementation:
Participation of governments, ULBs, technology providers, civil society and
sanitation workers strengthens coordinated action against hazardous manual
sanitation practices.
Source: PIB- https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2302324®=48&lang=1