Self Employment Scheme For Rehabilitation Of Manual Scavengers
Identified manual scavengers and their family members can access one-time cash grants, subsidised loans, and free skill training to move into alternative livelihoods through this central government scheme. Individual beneficiaries can get up to 50% subsidy on project costs (up to ₹5 lakh) and concessional loans at 5–6% interest, plus health insurance under Ayushman Bharat. Apply online at nskfdc.nic.in or through your local nationalised bank or State Channelising Agency.
About This Scheme
Identified manual scavengers and their family members can access one-time cash grants, subsidised loans, and free skill training to move into alternative livelihoods through this central government scheme. Individual beneficiaries can get up to 50% subsidy on project costs (up to ₹5 lakh) and concessional loans at 5–6% interest, plus health insurance under Ayushman Bharat. Apply online at nskfdc.nic.in or through your local nationalised bank or State Channelising Agency.
Full official description
The Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) was introduced in January 2017 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, to assist the identified manual scavengers and their dependants in rehabilitation in alternative occupations. SRMS was revised in November 2013 in consonance with the provision of the “Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act, 2013).
Benefits
- One-time cash assistance of ₹40,000 per identified manual scavenger family
- Capital subsidy: 50% of project cost (up to ₹5 lakh) for individual projects up to ₹5 lakh
- For projects ₹5 lakh–₹15 lakh: ₹2.5 lakh fixed + 25% of remaining cost
- Group projects: up to ₹50 lakh total; subsidy up to ₹3.75 lakh per beneficiary
- Concessional loan interest: 5% p.a. (4% for women) up to ₹1 lakh; 6% p.a. for larger loans
- Free skill development training for up to 2 years, with ₹3,000 per month stipend
- Health insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY
Who Can Apply (Eligibility)
- Must be officially identified as a manual scavenger through a state government survey, with an assigned MS-ID or Receipt Number
- Dependants of identified manual scavengers are also eligible
- Sanitation workers and their dependants are eligible but limited to sanitation-related self-employment projects
How to Apply
Application for One-Time Cash Assistance (OTCA) -**** Identification of manual scavengers is done by the concerned State Governments through surveys by the Urban Local Bodies/Gram Panchayats.
Application for Loan -
Step 01: Visit https://nskfdc.nic.in/en/node/add/srms-projects-loan-form. Fill in the mandatory fields and click "Submit". The loan applications are submitted by the beneficiaries to the District Offices of State Channelizing Agencies (SCAs) of NSKFDC/ Branches of Regional Rural Banks(RRBs)/Nationalised Bank.
Step 02: The District Offices of SCAs/Branches of RRBs/Nationalised Banks send these applications after scrutiny to their Head Offices.
Step 03: The viability of the project proposals are appraised by the SCAs/ RRBs/Nationalised Banks and the viable projects are sent to NSKFDC along with their recommendations.
Step 04: The said project proposals are also appraised by the Project Appraisal Committee of NSKFDC and the proposals which are found to be in order, are placed before the Board of Directors for consideration and sanction.
Step 05: After sanctioning by the Board of Directors of NSKFDC, the sanction letters, also called Letter of Intents, are issued to the SCAs/RRBs/Nationalised for acceptance.
Step 06: After acceptance of the terms and conditions of the sanction and execution of the loan agreement/other documents, funds are released to the SCAs/RRBs/Nationalised Bank for onward disbursement to the beneficiaries.
The release of funds is being made by NSKFDC on receipt of demand from the SCAs/RRBs/Nationalised Banks after considering all the parameters of release as per the Lending Policies & Guidelines (LPG) of NSKFDC.
Application for Skill Development -
- The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India is implementing Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgarhi (PM-DAKSH) Scheme across the country from the financial year 2020-21 through its Apex Corporations.
- Under the PM-DAKSH Yojana, Skill Development Training is provided to the candidates belonging to SCs, OBCs, EBCs, DNTs, and Sanitation workers including waste pickers for improving all-around competency & adeptness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the objectives of SRMS?
The objective of SRMS is to provide assistance to the identified manual scavengers and their dependents for their rehabilitation in alternative occupations.
Which documents are required to submit by the beneficiary?
- Aadhaar card
- Ration card
- Residence proof
- ID card
- Passport size photograph
- Mobile number
- Bank details
Who Are Eligible To Avail Assistance Under This Scheme?
Manual Scavengers identified during the survey conducted by State Governments & allotted MS-ID/Receipt No. and their dependents.
Sanitation Workers and their dependents are eligible only for assistance for sanitation-related self-employment projects. Sanitation worker has to produce an occupation certificate from a designated authority.
What Are The Benefits Under The SRMS Scheme?
Onetime cash assistance of Rs.40000/- to one identified manual scavenger per family.
Skill Development Training up to two years with stipend of Rs.3000/- per month to the manual scavenger/dependent who opts for such training.
Help to take up own Self Employment Projects.
What Is The Repayment Period Of The Loan?
The maximum repayment period, including a moratorium period of upto 6 months, is 5 years for projects upto Rs. 5.00 lakh and upto seven years for projects above Rs. 5 lakhs.
What is meant by Manual Scavenger And Manual Scavenging?
Manual Scavenger and Manual Scavenging: "manual scavenger" means a person engaged or employed, at the commencement of this Act or at any time thereafter, by an individual or a local authority or an agency or a contractor, for manually cleaning, carrying, disposing of, or otherwise handling in any manner, human excreta in an insanitary latrine or in an open drain or pit into which the human excreta from the insanitary latrines is disposed of, or on railway track or in such other spaces or premises, as the Central Government or a State Government may notify, before the excreta fully decomposes and the expression "manual scavenging" shall be construed accordingly.
What is MS Act 2013?
Parliament enacted the "Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013"(MS Act, 2013), prohibiting insanitary latrines, manual scavenging and hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks. This Act came into force w.e.f 06.12.2013. The Act also specified the rehabilitation benefits to be provided to the persons included in the list of identified manual scavengers and their dependents.
What is meant by "Hazardous Cleaning Of Sewer/ Septic Tank"?
Hazardous Cleaning of Sewer/ Septic Tank: hazardous cleaning" by an employee, in relation to a sewer or septic tank, means its manual cleaning by such employee without the employer fulfilling his obligations to provide protective gear (as defined in MS Rule, 2013) and other cleaning devices and ensuring observance of safety precautions, as may be prescribed or provided in any other law, for the time being in force or rules made thereunder;
Are all Manual Scavengers eligible for Skill Development Training Programme (SDTP) or Loan?
All manual scavengers who are willing and their dependents who are above 18 years of age are eligible for skill training and loan.
Who is a Sanitation Worker / Safai Karmachari?
"Sanitation Worker" means a person, engaged in or employed for any sanitation work and includes waste pickers and also those persons who were engaged in hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tank, but excludes domestic workers.
Who Is The Appropriate Authority To Issue Occupation Certificate For A SafaiKaramachari Or Their Dependants?
Local Revenue Officer/Local Municipal Officer/Cantonment Executive Officer/ Railway Officer, Head of the Govt. Departments (i.e. Schools, Colleges, Forest, Health, Education, Animal Husbandry) having rank not less than Gazetted Officer, Elected Members of Municipal Body, Pradhan of Gram Panchayats and Regional Managers of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)/Public Sector Banks (PSBs).
Ready to apply?
Visit the official government portal to apply for this scheme.
Apply on myScheme.gov.inDocuments Required
- Aadhaar Card
- Proof of Identity
- Proof of Address
- Proof of Age
- Occupation Certificate from a designated authority.
- Passport Size Photograph
- Bank Details