Waste Picker Enumeration App Under NAMASTE Scheme
On World Environment Day 2025 in New Delhi, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment launched an app to record and support informal waste workers.
Key facts
- App benefits: occupational ID cards, PM-JAY cover, PPE kits, skilling and capital subsidies.
- Waste pickers are to join urban waste management systems.
- 750 Dry Waste Collection Centers (DWCCs) support collective empowerment.
About NAMASTE
- Full form: National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem; Central Sector Scheme.
- Aim: end manual scavenging and hazardous work; promote safe, skilled, mechanised services.
- Began for sewer and septic tank workers; extended in June 2024 to waste pickers.
- Run by MoSJE and MoHUA; executing agency NSKFDC.
Significance
- Recognises waste pickers as circular-economy agents; supports Mission LiFE, Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 and SDGs 1, 3, 8, 11.
Exam angle
- Nodal ministry: MoSJE.
- Scheme type: Central Sector.