Urban India has reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the dignity, security, and safety of all sanitation workers (Safai Mitras). 500 cities in India have formally proclaimed themselves to be “Safai Mitra Surakshit Shehar” for the first time.

By doing this, they have proven that the cities are capable of meeting the MoHUA-specified standards for institutional capacity, manpower, and equipment, as well as for safe working conditions for Safai Mitras. The “Safai Mitra Surakshit Shehar” declaration made by 500 cities is consistent with the Swachh Bharat Mission-long-standing Urban mission to advance sustainable sanitation practices and serve as a catalyst for turning every “manhole” into a “machine hole”.

The webinar was jointly chaired by Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), and R. Subrahmanyam, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and was attended by various stakeholders, in the sanitation space.

Both Ministries jointly launched the “NAMASTE” (National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem) Scheme to improve occupational safety, improved access to safety gear and machines, provide skilled wage opportunities, and focus on continuous capacity building while breaking the generations of drudgery enforced on manual sewer cleaners earlier. This was done to give momentum to the ongoing efforts toward mechanization and the safety of workers.

On World Toilet Day in 2019, MoHUA launched the ‘Safai Mitra Suraksha Challenge’ through which100 Lighthouse cities were identified that were well equipped in terms of sanitation infrastructure and facilities.

MoHUA also provided a protocol for ‘Safai Mitra Surakshit Shehar’. States have set up Responsible Sanitation Authorities (RSAs) & Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ESRUs) at the district level and are now prioritizing training and capacity building of SafaiMitras. MoHUA is committed to ensuring that all Indian cities declare themselves as ‘Safai Mitra Surkashit’ by March 2024.

Manoj Joshi along with other dignitaries also launched three compendiums developed with the support of the National Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (NFSSM) Alliance titled, ‘Lighthouse Cities: Safai Mitra Suraksha Ki Misaal’, ‘Best Practices from India Cities: Safai Mitra Suraksha aur Samman’, and ‘Safai Mitra Speak: Badlaav Ki Kahaani’.

The cities of Jamshedpur, Dewas, Tirupati, and Bhubaneswar presented their experiences of making their cities ‘Safai Mitra Surakshit’. Commissioners of Municipal Corporations, along with Safai Mitras from these cities attended the webinar. These Safai Mitras shared their on-ground experience and how working conditions have improved in their respective cities, commending their respective Municipal Corporations for creating a safe working ecosystem for the Safai Mitras.