Bhubaneswar, 22 August (H.S.): The Odisha Government will observe the fourth Saturday of August every year as ‘Garima Diwas’, dedicated to ensuring the safety, social security and dignity of sanitation workers.

The announcement was made by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at a national workshop on ‘Mission Zero – Ending Fatality in Sanitation Work’, organised at the Lok Seva Bhawan Convention Centre in Bhubaneswar on Saturday as part of Garima Diwas 2026.

The workshop brought together sanitation-sector experts, officials and sanitation workers from eight states to deliberate on measures to eliminate fatalities in hazardous sanitation work.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said clean cities, a safe environment and the safety of those responsible for maintaining sanitation are essential for a prosperous Odisha. He said Garima Diwas would serve as an annual reminder of society’s responsibility to protect the dignity and lives of sanitation workers.

Majhi emphasised the need to use modern technology, robotics and artificial intelligence to protect sanitation workers engaged in hazardous operations. He pointed out that India is advancing rapidly in areas such as drones, robotics and AI and said similar technologies should be deployed to reduce human exposure to dangerous sanitation work.

Referring to the Centre’s NAMASTE scheme, he said mechanisation of sanitation operations is being encouraged and stressed the need to provide workers with appropriate training to operate modern equipment safely and efficiently.

The Chief Minister said the government’s objective should not merely be compensation after an accident, but prevention of accidents and protection of workers before they are exposed to danger.

“It is our responsibility to protect the dignity of the hands that give us cleanliness,” he said, underlining the core objective of Mission Zero.

On the occasion, Chief Minister Majhi handed over ₹10 lakh in insurance assistance to the wife of late sanitation worker Pratap Dalei.

He said the government’s goal was to ensure safety before a tragedy occurs rather than provide assistance only after a death. He added that the lives of sanitation workers engaged in hazardous activities must be protected through preventive measures.

The government also informed that insurance assistance has been provided this year to the families of two sanitation workers whose deaths occurred due to reasons other than sanitation-related work.

The Chief Minister inaugurated an exhibition showcasing modern technology-based sanitation machinery and safety equipment and reviewed the exhibits. He also distributed work orders for housing to sanitation workers.

Secretary of the Union Ministry of Social Justice Sudhansh Pant thanked the Chief Minister for organising the national-level programme and said Odisha was setting an example in the country in the areas of sanitation workers’ safety, economic empowerment and welfare.

He praised the Odisha Government’s Garima scheme, describing its approach as comprehensive and focused not only on sanitation workers but also on the welfare of their families.

Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg said sanitation workers, referred to as ‘Swachh Saathis’, play a vital role in keeping cities and the state clean.

She said “zero fatality” is not merely a slogan but a commitment, adding that the government would take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of sanitation workers.

Urban Management Centre Director Manvita Baradi also appreciated the initiatives undertaken by the Odisha Government for sanitation workers. She said the Garima scheme contains several provisions aimed at improving the welfare of workers as well as their families.

Additional Chief Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, Usha Padhi, welcomed the participants, while Director of Municipal Administration Arindam Dakua proposed the vote of thanks.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda