Indices Manual Scavenging Report Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has in recent years maintained that ‘hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks’ caused deaths. Only 508 districts (66%) out of the total 766 districts in the country have declared themselves manual-scavenging free. 58,000 identified sewer workers have been given a one-time cash pay-out of Rs.40,000 each. In addition, around 22,000 of them (less than half) have been connected to skills training programmes. The scheme for Rehabilitation of manual scavengers has now been merged with the NAMASTE scheme for 100% mechanization of sewer work. About NAMASTE National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) is an initiative to ensure the safety of sanitation workers. The Scheme was launched in 2022 and aims to eradicate unsafe sewer and septic tank cleaning practices. NHAI’s First Sustainability Report Sustainability Report for FY 2021-22 National Highway Authority of India’s first ‘Sustainability Report for FY 2021-22’ covers NHAI’s governance structure, stakeholders, environment and social responsibility initiatives. Key Highlights From FY 2019-20 till 2021-22 direct emission reduced by 18.44% and 9.49% due to less fuel consumption respectively. Green House Gas (GHG) Emissions from energy consumption, operations, transport and travel saw a decline of 9.7% in FY 2020-21 and 2% in FY 2021-22.
