National Workshop on 'Mission Zero – Ending Fatalities in Sanitation Work'

As part of strengthening institutional mechanisms, promoting appropriate technologies, ensuring operational preparedness and scaling up mechanised sanitation services across cities in the country, a National Workshop on "Mission Zero: Ending Fatalities in Sanitation Work" was organised at the State Convention Centre, Lokseva Bhawan, Bhubaneswar in Odisha today.

The workshop was graced by Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Odisha. Among the other dignitaries present were Shri Sudhansh Pant, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India; Smt. Anu Garg, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Odisha, Smt. Usha Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha; Shri V. K. Chaurasia, Advisor, CPHEEO; Shri Debabrata Mohanty, Managing Director, WATCO; Shri Prabhat Kumar Singh, Managing Director, NSKFDC, the nodal agency for implementation of NAMASTE; Ms. Meghna Malhotra and Shri Xerxes Rao, UMC; Shri Chanchal Rana, IAS, Municipal Commissioner, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation; and Dr. Vijay Suryavansi, IAS, Municipal Commissioner, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.

Senior government officials, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), sanitation-sector experts, manufacturers, technology providers, civil society organisations and sanitation workers to deliberate on building a safe, dignified and fully mechanised sanitation ecosystem.

The workshop focused on strengthening institutional mechanisms, promoting appropriate technologies, ensuring operational preparedness and scaling up mechanised sanitation services across cities, with the overarching objective of achieving zero fatalities in sanitation work.

Talking to media, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Sudhansh Pant reiterated that achieving zero fatalities in sanitation work is a core national priority under the vision of the Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He emphasised the need for a whole-of-government approach to ensure that sanitation services are delivered safely, systematically and with dignity.

Video Clips are attached

National Workshop on "Mission Zero - Ending Fatalities in Sanitation Work" 1

National Workshop on "Mission Zero - Ending Fatalities in Sanitation Work" 2

The participation of diverse stakeholders underscored the importance of coordinated action among governments, ULBs, technology providers and communities to eliminate hazardous manual sanitation practices.

The workshop reaffirmed the collective commitment to building a safe, dignified, technology-driven and sustainable sanitation ecosystem, where no sanitation worker loses their life while performing sanitation duties.

The Mission Zero approach seeks to transform sanitation work through mechanisation, institutional preparedness, worker safety, social security and livelihood support, paving the way towards zero fatalities in sanitation work across the country.