UNICEF, partners address urban sanitation challenges in India

NEW DELHI: UNICEF India in collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) held a one-day conference ‘Learnings from the FSSM initiatives’ on June 12, 2024 in New Delhi. The event marked the culmination of over three years of intensive work under the UNICEF-BMGF project, which aims to enhance public health through the safe management of faecal sludge treatment plants (FSTPs) across four states—Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh. The project, initiated at the end of 2021, has involved extensive interventions from policy formulation to ground-level implementation, including the establishment of 11 technological support units and the training of 18,600 stakeholders.

Sujoy Majumdar, Water Sanitation and Hygiene Specialist at UNICEF highlighted that UNICEF’s initial efforts in the country began with water projects during a drought in Bihar in the mid-1960s. Emphasizing the significance of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.2, which focuses on sanitation, Majumdar detailed the project’s comprehensive approach, which included preparing a social and behavioural change communications strategy for faecal sludge management.

Karina Malczewska, UNICEF India underscored the crucial connection between sanitation and public health, referring to SDG 6.1 and SDG 6.2. She pointed out that investing $1 in sanitation can yield $5 in returns by improving health outcomes and productivity.

Sakshi Gudwani from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) expressed gratitude towards government agencies, implementation partners, and communities for their cooperation. Speaking to Urban Update she said, “This partnership entailed us bringing resources in terms of technical experience on faecal sludge and septage management (FSSM) and best practices and lessons from all across India and globally. There has been some incredible progress, we’re very happy with how this project has moved forward.” Gudwani noted BMGF’s commitment to investing in innovative technologies, such as Household and Community Reinvented Toilets (HRT and CRT), which aim to process waste onsite, reducing the need for extensive transportation infrastructure.

Speakers from the four focus states provided updates on their respective progress and challenges. Ujjawal Porwal from Chhattisgarh emphasized the role of the UPYOG portal in facilitating data-driven decision-making, which has been implemented in three urban local bodies (ULBs) and is planned for expansion to all 169 ULBs. Mridu Boro from Assam shared the state’s journey from having no baseline surveys or functional STPs before 2021 to operationalizing three FSTPs, with 32 more in development.

Pushpa Martin from Jharkhand spoke about the state’s significant increase in FSTP capacity, from 388 KLD to 750 KLD, with TSU support. Martin highlighted the state’s focus on nature-based and energy-neutral FSTPs, and detailed the ground-level work by local leaders and the Mahila Samiti.

The conference also featured discussions on the importance of innovative FSSM technologies and the role of climate resilience in FSTP construction. Shipra Saxena from UNICEF Odisha discussed the prevalence of single pit toilets in Odisha and the success of the Dhenkanal Pilot Project, which has been scaled up to the district of Ganjam. Ajeet Oak from PRIMOVE elaborated on various FSSM technologies, including vermifiltration and mechanical dewatering.

In addition to technological solutions, the event highlighted the need for comprehensive monitoring and knowledge management. Kaushiki Banerjee from UNICEF introduced an IT-based monitoring tool for end-to-end tracking of FSSM activities.

The conference concluded with a lively Q&A session where innovative ideas were proposed, such as linking FSSM with property tax and engaging children in best practices to foster behavioral change. The event underscored the critical need for coordinated efforts and innovative solutions to address India’s urban sanitation challenges and achieve sustainable development goals.