Odisha Sets ‘Mission Zero’ Target to End Deaths in Sanitation Work

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has set a clear target of eliminating fatalities in sanitation work, with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi calling for greater use of mechanisation, modern equipment and emerging technologies to protect sanitation workers from hazardous cleaning operations.

Speaking at the 2nd National Workshop on GARIMA at the Lok Seva Bhawan Convention Centre on Saturday, Majhi said the safety and dignity of sanitation workers must be treated as a priority alongside efforts to build cleaner and healthier cities.

The workshop, organised to mark GARIMA Diwas 2026, was centred on the theme ‘Mission Zero: Ending Fatalities in Sanitation Work’. Sanitation-sector experts and officials from eight states, along with sanitation workers, participated in the programme.

Majhi announced that the fourth Saturday of August will be observed every year as GARIMA Diwas in Odisha. The day will focus on strengthening measures for the protection, social security and dignity of sanitation workers.

He said the observance would help reinforce society’s responsibility towards workers who perform essential sanitation services and often face hazardous working conditions.

Emphasising the need to eliminate hazardous manual cleaning, Majhi said India’s progress in robotics, artificial intelligence and advanced technologies should be translated into practical solutions for sanitation work.

He called for wider adoption of mechanisation under the Centre’s NAMASTE (National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem) scheme and stressed that sanitation workers should receive proper training to operate modern equipment.

According to the Chief Minister, dangerous cleaning operations should increasingly be performed by machines rather than exposing workers to avoidable risks.

He also underlined the philosophy behind ‘Mission Zero’, saying the priority should be preventing accidents rather than providing compensation after a worker loses their life.

On the occasion, Majhi handed over Rs 10 lakh in insurance assistance to the wife of late sanitation worker Pratap Dalai.

He said the government’s responsibility was to ensure that workers engaged in hazardous occupations receive adequate protection and that their families are supported in times of crisis.

The Chief Minister also inaugurated an exhibition displaying modern sanitation machinery and safety equipment. He interacted with participants and handed over work orders for houses to sanitation workers.

Union Social Justice Department Secretary Sudhansh Pant appreciated Odisha’s efforts towards improving the safety, economic well-being and social security of sanitation workers. He highlighted the state’s GARIMA Yojana as an initiative that could serve as a model for other states.

Chief Secretary Anu Garg said the government was committed to making zero fatalities in sanitation work a reality.

“Zero fatality is not just a slogan for us; it is a resolution,” she said, reiterating that the state would take all necessary steps to improve workplace safety.

Manvita Baradi, Director of the Urban Management Centre, also lauded the GARIMA scheme, pointing out that its approach extends beyond individual sanitation workers to include the welfare and security of their families.

The national workshop brought together policymakers, experts and workers to discuss technology-led solutions, stronger safety mechanisms and coordinated interventions to make sanitation work safer and more dignified.