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- Why in News?
- The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) has introduced a nationwide digital platform to register and profile waste pickers under the NAMASTE scheme.
- Key Provisions:-
- This initiative aims to bring waste pickers into the formal workforce and provide them with rehabilitation and welfare benefits.
- The National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme, launched during 2023–24, is a Central Sector Scheme that focuses on ending manual scavenging and promoting mechanized sanitation. Its primary goal is to ensure the safety, dignity, and rehabilitation of those involved in the hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks.
- The scheme is jointly implemented by the MoSJE and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). The National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC) acts as the key implementing agency for the welfare of sewer and septic tank workers. In June 2024, the scheme's scope was extended to include waste pickers, marking a major step toward inclusive sanitation work reform.
- Why in News?
- On World Environment Day, the Prime Minister emphasized the significance of restoring the Aravalli range through the Aravalli Green Wall Project. He announced that all plantation efforts in the Aravalli region and surrounding areas would be geo-tagged and tracked via the Meri LiFE Portal to ensure transparency and accountability.
- Key Provisions:-
- The Aravalli Green Wall Project is a key initiative under the Ministry of Environment's broader strategy to develop green corridors throughout India. The project envisions establishing a continuous green belt along a 700-km stretch of the Aravalli range, with a 5-kilometer buffer zone.
- As one of the world's oldest mountain ranges, the Aravallis extend across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi. The project's objectives include curbing the eastward spread of the Thar Desert, enhancing carbon sequestration, and contributing to India’s commitments under international agreements such as the UNCCD, CBD, and UNFCCC. It plays a crucial role in tackling desertification and promoting ecological restoration.
- Why in News?
- On the eve of World Environment Day 2025, the Ministry of Environment unveiled the National Plastic Waste Reporting Portal, aiming to strengthen transparency and accountability in plastic waste management across India.
- Key Provisions:-
- The portal is designed as an integrated digital platform to monitor and document every stage of the plastic waste lifecycle — from collection by waste pickers to processing, recycling, and final disposal. It ensures end-to-end visibility of the waste management chain.
- One of the portal’s key features is its ability to provide real-time access to data from Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and District Panchayats nationwide. This will aid policymakers, local authorities, and stakeholders in making informed decisions, planning effective interventions, and ensuring compliance with waste management norms.
- By enabling centralized reporting, the portal supports India’s broader environmental goals of reducing plastic pollution, promoting sustainability, and encouraging circular economy practices. It represents a major step forward in data-driven environmental governance.