Archive · 13 Sep 2026
India Profiles 90,000 Sewer Workers for Safety and Insurance
India is collecting information about people who clean sewers, septic tanks and waste.
This helps the government provide safety equipment and welfare benefits.
Nearly 90,000 sewer and septic tank workers have been checked and validated.
More than 87,000 of them received protective equipment.
Over 76,000 were covered by health insurance schemes.
The government also registered hundreds of thousands of waste pickers.
Some waste pickers received protective equipment or were considered for Ayushman Cards.
Money was provided to help sanitation workers buy vehicles for safer, mechanized cleaning.
Officials say these steps are meant to protect workers and respect their dignity.
Nearly 90,000 sewer and septic tank workers have been profiled, with 89,248 validated.
PPE kits were provided to 87,037 sanitation workers, while 76,247 received health insurance coverage.
A total of 3,78,547 waste pickers were profiled, including 2,52,163 validated through e-KYC.
The government released Rs 34.17 crore in capital subsidies to help 983 workers acquire 364 sanitation vehicles.
The initiative also includes safety devices, hazardous-cleaning prevention workshops and expanded support for rural and urban waste pickers.
- Who
- Union Social Justice and Empowerment Secretary Sudhansh Pant announced measures for sewer workers, septic tank workers and waste pickers.
- What
- The government profiled workers and provided protective equipment, insurance coverage, financial assistance, safety devices and training.
- When
- The figures were issued in an official statement on Sunday; the scheme’s coverage was expanded in June 2024.
- Where
- Across India, including urban and rural areas.
- Why
- To improve occupational safety, expand welfare access, support mechanized sanitation and uphold the dignity of sanitation and waste-management workers.
- Sewer and septic tank workers profiled
- 90,942
- Workers validated
- 89,248
- Sanitation workers receiving PPE kits
- 87,037
- Sanitation workers covered by health insurance
- 76,247
- Waste pickers profiled
- 3,78,547
- Capital subsidy released
- Rs 34.17 crore
- Safety workshops conducted
- 1,562