Highlights

    • NITI Aayog released a book on faecal sludge and septage management in urban areas.

    • Jointly developed with National Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (NFSSM) Alliance, the book presents 27 case studies across 10 states and various service and business models adopted by Indian cities while implementing faecal sludge and septage management (FSSM) initiatives.

    • In addition to this, a set of 8 Exhibits spread across the report, provide innovative models and interventions across cities and states which have been successfully implemented.

    • The report further highlights examples and cases wherein gender equality, inclusive sanitation and pro-poor strategies are adopted across the value chain.

    • India has witnessed unprecedented momentum around sanitation since 2014 and was declared Open Defecation Free, in 2019.

    • Due to sustained political will, coordinated action, and public participation at all levels universal access to toilets was achieved in Urban India with the construction of 66 lakh household toilets and more than 6 lakh community and public toilets. 

    • However, with only 40% of urban India connected to sewer networks and about 1,2002 operational/under construction Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), a majority of the toilets (60%) rely on on-site sanitation systems (OSS).

    • Despite universal toilet access, a large part of waste water generated is discharged untreated in water bodies or on land.

    • The next targets in the urban sanitation sector are the ODF+, ODF++, and Water + certifications for ULBs which focus on entire sanitation service chain as well as wastewater treatment.

    • Faecal Sludge & Septage Management (FSSM) enables rapid and cost effective provision of safely managed sanitation to 100% of the population especially in small and medium cities with no provision for treatment of faecal sludge and in areas not covered by sewerage systems, even in larger cities.

    • FSSM prioritizes human excreta management, a waste stream with the highest potential for spreading diseases.

    • It is a low-cost and easily scalable sanitation solution that focuses on safe collection, transportation, treatment, and reuse of human waste.

    • As a result, FSSM promises a means to achieve the SDG target 6.2 of adequate and inclusive sanitation for all in a time bound manner.

    • FSSM focuses on human waste management at INR 200 – INR 250 per capita as a way to provide rapid sanitation coverage to all, while the more comprehensive sewerage system costs INR 7,000 – INR 11,000 per capita.

    • FSSM therefore, presents an opportunity to rapidly deliver safely managed sanitation to all at relatively lower cost.

    • This report is intended for city managers, municipal functionaries, elected representatives, state decision makers, CSOs and private-sector players to understand the developments in FSSM and the opportunities it presents.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)