Odisha Strengthens GARIMA Initiative to Make Sanitation Work Safer and More Dignified

Bhubaneswar: Odisha is stepping up efforts to make sanitation work safer and more dignified by expanding the scope of its flagship GARIMA initiative, with the state government reaffirming its commitment to eliminating hazardous manual cleaning practices and strengthening social security for sanitation workers.

Backed by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the initiative aims to transform the lives of core sanitation workers by replacing unsafe manual operations with mechanised sanitation services while ensuring they receive the recognition, protection and welfare benefits they deserve.

The programme combines technological intervention with institutional reforms to reduce occupational hazards. Sanitation workers are being provided with mechanised sewer and septic tank cleaning equipment along with essential Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including helmets, gloves, face masks, safety goggles and protective boots, enabling them to carry out their duties in a safer work environment.

Beyond workplace safety, GARIMA has evolved into a comprehensive welfare programme. Workers covered under the scheme receive hazard allowance, life and accident insurance, regular health check-ups, identity cards, subsidised food security benefits and housing assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U). Dedicated Garima Halls, equipped with rest rooms and sanitation facilities, have also been established across Urban Local Bodies to improve their working conditions. Nearly 9,364 core sanitation workers have been brought under the programme across Odisha.

The government cited the example of Raju Naik, a sanitation worker from Berhampur Municipal Corporation, whose working conditions have changed significantly under the initiative. Earlier engaged in hazardous manual sewer cleaning, he now operates mechanised desludging equipment and has access to protective gear, insurance, healthcare and housing support, improving both his livelihood and his family’s quality of life.

To further promote safe and inclusive sanitation practices, the Housing and Urban Development Department will organise the 2nd National GARIMA Conclave in Bhubaneswar on August 22 and 23, 2026. The event will bring together policymakers, sanitation workers, urban local bodies, technology providers and development partners from across the country to exchange ideas on complete mechanisation, worker welfare and inclusive sanitation policies.

According to the government, the conclave will also serve as a platform to showcase Odisha’s GARIMA model and encourage nationwide efforts to ensure that sanitation workers no longer have to risk their lives while performing essential public services.