PIB Summaries 11 September 2025

Content

1. Gyan Bharatam Mission
2. National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE)

---

Gyan Bharatam Mission

---

What is the Gyan Bharatam Mission?

• A national initiative to preserve, digitise, and disseminate India’s manuscript heritage.
• Approved as a Central Sector Scheme (2024–31) with an outlay of ₹482.85 crore.
• Builds on the work of the National Mission for Manuscripts (2003).
• Over 44.07 lakh manuscripts already documented in Kriti Sampada repository.
• Formal launch through the Gyan Bharatam International Conference (11–13 Sept 2025, Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi).

Relevance:

• GS I: Heritage preservation, Indian Knowledge Systems, cultural diplomacy.
• GS II: Governance via Central Sector Scheme, NEP 2020 integration.
• GS III: AI/digital tools for manuscript conservation, Digital India link.

Civilisational Context

• India has an estimated 5+ million manuscripts, covering disciplines such as philosophy, science, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, arts, spirituality.
• Manuscripts found in temples, monasteries, Jaina Bhandāras, libraries, private collections.
• Written in multiple languages and scripts (e.g., Sanskrit in Devanagari, Oriya, Grantha).
• Represent Bhāratīya Jñāna Paramparā (Indian Knowledge Systems) and civilisational continuity.

Conference Highlights

• Dates: 11–13 Sept 2025, Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
• Symbolism: Coincides with Swami Vivekananda’s Chicago address (1893) → India’s knowledge legacy to the world.
• Themes:
  • Conservation & restoration
  • Survey & documentation standards
  • AI-driven innovations (Handwritten Text Recognition, script decipherment)
  • Translation & publication
  • Integration with education & NEP 2020
  • Copyright and legal frameworks

Gyan-Setu: National AI Innovation Challenge

• Launched during the conference to involve students, researchers, start-ups.
• Focus: Use AI for manuscript digitisation, recognition, and global access.
• Potential applications:
  • Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR)
  • Multilingual translation
  • Cloud-based metadata systems
  • Interactive digital archives

Objectives of the Mission

1. Identification & Documentation → Nationwide Manuscript Resource Centres (MRCs).
2. Conservation & Restoration → Strengthened Manuscript Conservation Centres (MCCs).
3. Digitisation → AI, cloud storage, IIIF-based platforms.
4. Research, Translation, Publication → Critical editions, facsimiles, multilingual translations.
5. Capacity Building → Training in palaeography, conservation, transcription.
6. Technology Development → Mobile apps, secure repositories, cloud solutions.
7. Public Engagement → Collector incentives, exhibitions, museums, innovation labs.
8. Global Collaboration → International partnerships, manuscript retrieval, higher education integration.

Linkages with NEP 2020

• NEP promotes Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) in curricula.
• Teaching in mother tongue/regional language till Grade 5 → strengthens cultural roots.
• NEP’s emphasis on heritage, arts, languages aligns with GBM’s objectives.

Foundations: National Mission for Manuscripts (2003)

• Established as India’s first centralised repository.
• Achievements:
  • Documented 44.07 lakh manuscripts.
  • Developed Manus Granthavali software (metadata standards).
  • Partnered with major libraries (Saraswati Mahal, Rampur Raza, Khuda Bakhsh).
  • Compiled 2,500+ catalogues under CAT-CAT initiative.
• Serves as foundation for GBM’s expansion with AI and digital tools.

Relevance in Today’s Context

• Extends Digital India vision into cultural heritage.
• Like UPI (finance) and DIKSHA (education), GBM modernises knowledge preservation.
• Makes ancient manuscripts accessible globally through digital libraries.
• Inspires youth participation via AI innovation challenges.
• Supports cultural diplomacy by positioning India as a knowledge hub.

Expected Outcomes

• Global recognition of India’s manuscript heritage.
• Strengthened scholarly innovation in Indology and Indian Knowledge Systems.
• Youth custodianship → engaging students and innovators.
• AI-enabled accessibility → broader research and educational integration.
• Civilisational pride → blending “Virasat aur Vikas” (heritage + progress).
• Contribution to Viksit Bharat @2047 → positioning India as a Vishwa Guru.

Critical Analysis

• Strengths:
  • Large-scale digitisation with AI.
  • Global collaboration potential.
  • Strong youth engagement.
  • Alignment with NEP 2020 and Digital India.
• Challenges:
  • Handling fragile manuscripts during digitisation.
  • Copyright & intellectual property issues.
  • Ensuring authenticity in translations.
  • Avoiding centralisation → need for inclusive, community-based preservation.
• Opportunities:
  • Create a global digital knowledge library.
  • Build scholarship pipelines in palaeography, conservation.
  • Position India as leader in digital heritage preservation.

---

National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE)

---

Basics of NAMASTE

• Launch: July 2023 by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) and Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
• Objective: Ensure safety, dignity, and livelihood security of Sanitation Workers by:
  • Eliminating manual hazardous cleaning.
  • Promoting mechanised, trained, certified sanitation practices.
  • Strengthening social security and financial inclusion.
• Coverage: All 4800+ Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
• Timeframe & Outlay: 2023–26; total outlay ₹349.70 crore.
• Target Groups:
  • Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs).
  • Waste Pickers (added in June 2024).

Relevance:

• GS II: Social justice, elimination of manual scavenging, inter-ministerial convergence.
• GS III: Mechanised sanitation, solid waste management, MIS/digital apps.
• GS IV: Human dignity, labour ethics, SDGs (6 & 8).

 

Core Components

1. Identification & Profiling
   1. Validation of SSWs via ULBs & profiling camps.
   1. Till Aug 2025: 84,902 SSWs validated; 37,980 waste pickers enumerated.
2. Occupational Safety
   1. 45,871 PPE kits distributed.
   1. 354 safety device kits given to Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs).
   1. 642 ERSUs set up.
3. Health Security
   1. 54,140 beneficiaries covered under Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY & State schemes.
4. Livelihood & Entrepreneurship
   1. Capital subsidy under Swachhata Udyami Yojana (SUY).
   1. ₹20.36 crore subsidy disbursed to 707 workers/dependents.
   1. Training for self-employment & skill-building with stipend.
   1. Promotes “Sanipreneurs” (sanitation entrepreneurs).
5. Institutional Convergence
   1. Synergy across SRMS, SBM, DAY-NULM, NSKFDC.
   1. Unified approach to safety, welfare, and livelihoods.
6. IEC & Awareness
   1. Mass campaigns in local languages + social media.
   1. Conducted 1,089 workshops on prevention of hazardous cleaning.
7. MIS & Digital Integration
   1. Dedicated website + MIS for monitoring.
   1. Waste Picker Enumeration App (2025) to profile 2.5 lakh workers.

Relevance & Significance

• Addresses occupational hazards: Prevents fatalities due to toxic gases & unsafe practices.
• Dignity & Social Justice: Formal recognition + financial independence → reduces stigma.
• Systemic reform: Shifts sanitation ecosystem from manual to mechanised cleaning.
• Environmental justice: Inclusion of waste pickers enhances solid waste management, recycling, and circular economy.
• Inter-ministerial convergence: Stronger efficiency, accountability, and scalability.

Key Milestones (till Aug 2025)

• 84,902 SSWs validated.
• 37,980 Waste Pickers validated.
• 45,871 PPE kits & 354 safety kits distributed.
• 54,140 insured under PMJAY/State schemes.
• ₹20.36 crore capital subsidy to 707 workers.
• 568 Responsible Sanitation Authorities (RSAs) formed.
• 642 ERSUs established.
• 1,089 training workshops conducted.

Recent Developments

• Waste Picker Enumeration App (2025): Profiling, ID cards, PM-JAY insurance, PPE kits, collectives for 750 DWCCs.
• Waste Pickers added (2024): Recognised as contributors to circular economy, linked with financing, skill development, and formal waste chain integration.

Overview

• Social Dimension: Restores dignity of sanitation workers, integrates them into formal systems, reduces caste-based occupational marginalisation.
• Economic Dimension: Transforms workers into entrepreneurs, ensures steady livelihoods, and formalises waste economy.
• Health Dimension: Expands preventive healthcare + health insurance, reducing occupational morbidity/mortality.
• Technological Dimension: Focus on mechanisation, PPE, digital enumeration, and monitoring tools for transparency.
• Environmental Dimension: Sustainable solid waste management via formal waste picker inclusion, supports recycling and resource recovery.
• Governance Dimension: Inter-ministerial convergence ensures policy coherence; MIS enhances accountability.
• Human Rights Dimension: Directly addresses Supreme Court rulings against manual scavenging, aligns with SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation) and SDG 8 (Decent Work).

Conclusion

• NAMASTE is India’s first holistic sanitation worker welfare scheme, combining safety, dignity, livelihood, and environmental justice.
• By mechanising sanitation, extending health & financial security, and integrating waste pickers, it represents a paradigm shift from exploitation to empowerment.
• Success depends on:
  • Effective ULB-level implementation.
  • Continuous monitoring via MIS & App tools.
  • Community participation & awareness.
• Positions India as a model for inclusive sanitation reform globally.

---