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90,000 Sewer Workers Profiled for Kits, Insurance: Govt
Nearly 90,000 sewer and septic tank workers have been profiled for PPE kits and health insurance, says Social Justice Secretary Sudhansh Pant.
Key Highlights:
- 90,942 sewer and septic tank workers have been profiled, with 89,248 validated, under a dignity and safety initiative.
- PPE kits have been provided to 87,037 sanitation workers, with 76,247 covered under health insurance schemes.
- Among 3,78,547 profiled waste pickers, 2,52,163 have been validated via e-KYC, with 1,31,864 receiving PPE kits.
- An upfront capital subsidy of Rs 34.17 crore has helped 983 sanitation workers procure 364 vehicles.
- 1,562 workshops on preventing hazardous sewer and septic tank cleaning have been conducted nationwide.
A Large-Scale Effort to Protect Sanitation Workers
Union Social Justice and Empowerment Secretary Sudhansh Pant said that nearly 90,000 sewer and septic tank workers have been profiled and validated as part of a government initiative aimed at ensuring dignity for sanitation workers while providing them with protective equipment, health insurance coverage and financial assistance, according to an official statement issued on Sunday.
The Scale of Profiling and Validation
According to Pant, out of 90,942 sewer and septic tank workers who have been profiled under the initiative, 89,248 have already been validated, indicating that the identification and verification process has covered the vast majority of the target workforce. This level of validation is a critical precursor to actually delivering benefits, since accurate worker identification determines who becomes eligible for the equipment, insurance and financial support that follow.
Protective Equipment and Health Coverage
Pant said that Personal Protective Equipment kits have been distributed to 87,037 sanitation workers, addressing a longstanding safety concern in an occupation that has historically involved significant health hazards due to inadequate protective gear. Alongside this, 76,247 workers have been brought under various health insurance schemes designed to support safer working conditions and improve access to healthcare protection, a particularly important intervention given the occupational health risks associated with sewer and septic tank cleaning work.
