Bhubaneswar: On GARIMA Diwas, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday called for concerted efforts to ensure zero fatalities in sanitation work, stressing the need to prioritise the safety and dignity of sanitation workers through mechanisation and modern technology.
Addressing the 2nd National Workshop on GARIMA at the Lok Seva Bhawan Convention Centre here, Majhi said clean cities, a safe environment and the safety of sanitation workers were essential for building a ‘Samruddha Odisha’.
The workshop, organised to mark GARIMA Diwas 2026, focused on the theme ‘Mission Zero: Ending Fatalities in Sanitation Work’. Experts and sanitation-sector officials from eight states, besides sanitation workers, participated in the event.
Majhi announced that the fourth Saturday of August will be observed every year as GARIMA Diwas, dedicated to protecting the lives of sanitation workers, strengthening their social security and enhancing their dignity in society.
Highlighting the need to eliminate hazardous manual cleaning, the Chief Minister said India was making rapid advances in robotics, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies and questioned why such innovations could not be deployed to safeguard sanitation workers.
He stressed the importance of mechanisation under the Centre’s NAMASTE (National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem) scheme and called for proper training of sanitation workers to enable them to efficiently operate modern equipment.
“Today is the time to prioritise the safety of sanitation workers and use machines for dangerous cleaning work,” Majhi said.
Emphasising the philosophy behind Mission Zero, the Chief Minister said the focus should be on preventing accidents rather than providing compensation after fatalities.
“Our goal is not to compensate for the loss. Our goal is not to help after death, but to protect before death. It is not to compensate after an accident, but to prevent accidents before they happen,” he said.
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 wanted to ensure the safety of workers engaged in dangerous occupations.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated and visited an exhibition showcasing modern technological machines and safety equipment for sanitation work. He handed over work orders for houses to sanitation workers.
The workshop also saw participation from senior government officials and experts working in the sanitation sector.
Union Social Justice Department Secretary Sudhansh Pant appreciated Odisha’s initiatives for the safety, economic development and welfare of sanitation workers. He said the state had emerged as an example for others through its implementation of the Garima Yojana.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg said sanitation workers were responsible for keeping cities clean and reiterated the state government’s commitment to achieving zero fatalities in sanitation work.
“Zero fatality is not just a slogan for us; it is a resolution,” Garg said, adding that the government would take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of sanitation workers.
Manvita Baradi, Director of the Urban Management Centre, praised Odisha’s Garima scheme, saying that it was designed not only for sanitation workers but also for the welfare of their families.
Additional Chief Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, Usha Padhee, welcomed the participants, while Director, Municipal Administration, Arindam Dakua, proposed the vote of thanks.
