India will celebrate NAMASTE Day 2026 on 14 July to mark the third anniversary of the National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme. The nationwide celebration, led by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, will have its main event at Rabindra Sadan in Kolkata, West Bengal, recognising the invaluable contribution of sanitation workers and reaffirming the government’s commitment to safe, mechanised, and dignified sanitation services.
NAMASTE Day honours sewer workers, septic tank workers, waste pickers, and former manual scavengers for their essential role in maintaining public health and urban sanitation. As part of the celebrations, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across the country will organise health check-up camps, occupational safety training, demonstrations of mechanised sanitation equipment, awareness sessions on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and the distribution of welfare benefits.
Launched in 2023–24, the NAMASTE Scheme aims to eliminate hazardous manual sanitation practices by promoting mechanised cleaning technologies, improving workplace safety, and enhancing the social and economic well-being of sanitation workers. The initiative reflects India’s continued efforts to ensure dignity, safety, and social inclusion for sanitation workers while advancing modern and sustainable urban sanitation systems.
