New Delhi, 04 September (H.S.): Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Friday distributed ‘NAMASTE’ and ‘Ayushman’ cards to waste-picking workers from the Najafgarh zone at the MCD Community Hall in Matiala.

According to the ministry, the initiative marks a significant step towards providing formal identification and social security to waste-picking workers under the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme. The scheme aims to eliminate hazardous manual cleaning, promote the mechanisation of sanitation work, and provide workers with skill development opportunities and social security benefits.

The minister said the government is fully committed to ensuring the safety, dignity and welfare of sanitation workers. He assured the workers that the government would continue to work towards improving their working conditions and ensuring direct access to various welfare schemes.

During the programme, the workers were provided Ayushman cards along with NAMASTE cards, enabling them to access free and quality healthcare coverage. More than 300 waste-picking workers from the Najafgarh zone of the MCD participated in the programme.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar