JAMMU, Feb 14: “On Friday, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Virender Kumar, met with Jammu and Kashmir’s Lt. Governor, Manoj Sinha,” officials reported.
The minister visited Jammu to hand out Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits and Ayushman health cards to Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) under the National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) initiative.
“During his meeting with Sinha at Raj Bhavan, the Union Minister discussed various welfare measures the government is implementing to afford dignity to Safai Karamcharis and empower them both socially and economically,” officials mentioned.
As part of his visit, the Minister also toured the outreach and drop-in centre (ODIC) operated by the NGO ‘J&K Society for the Promotion of Youth and Masses’ in Jammu, under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR).
This event reinforced the government’s pledge to ‘Vanchiton Ko Variyata’, ensuring that historically underserved communities receive the necessary attention and support.
“This commitment to prioritizing marginalized groups aligns with the government’s broader vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’, where every individual has the chance to contribute to and benefit from India’s developmental progress,” stated Mr. Kumar.
Earlier in the day, the minister distributed PPE kits and Ayushman health cards to SSWs at a separate event, emphasizing that the NAMASTE scheme aims to safeguard sanitation workers in urban India and improve their occupational safety by providing better access to PPE kits, safety devices, and equipment.
PPE kits are composed of various protective garments and accessories meant to protect individuals from potential health hazards or infections. These kits usually contain items such as masks, gloves, goggles, face shields, gowns, and shoe covers.
They play a critical role in safeguarding frontline workers, particularly those who encounter hazardous conditions or infectious diseases, such as sewer and septic tank workers, the minister added.
He further explained that the Ayushman health card serves as an identification credential issued under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), a government-sponsored health insurance initiative in India.
The card enables beneficiaries to access cashless and paperless healthcare services at affiliated hospitals, containing essential beneficiary information such as their unique identification number and details of covered healthcare services.
“Through collaborative actions and focused initiatives, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is committed to leaving no one behind in its quest to create a more just and empowered society,” concluded the minister. (Agencies)
