Sulochana Sahu’s story is a glorious example of how we can use diverse skillsets to contribute to behavioural change towards sustainable sanitation. Sulochana Sahu is a Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSM) Call Centre Executive in Odisha’s Dhenkanal Municipality since 2019. She was hired for the Operation and Maintenance of FSTPs by the Jeevan Jyoti Area Level Federation (ALF).

Taking on the lead for effective implementation of FSSM in both urban and rural areas, Sulochana has undertaken a range of activities. She takes booking for desludging requests, allocate cesspool vehicles, maintains and uploads the FSSM service information on the SUJOG-DIGIT app (which facilitates delivery of municipal services) and on Excel sheets developed by the HOUDD, Government of Odisha and creates an efficient process for individuals to access FSSM services. She coordinates with the Municipality and Jeevan Jyoti ALF’s President for grievance redressal and goes the extra mile to create awareness on FSSM services, sanitation, and ODF amongst ALF members and beneficiaries at the monthly meetings.

Sulochana has built an effective rapport with households through continuous follow ups on desludging activities. This not only enables effective monitoring, but encourages households to participate in opting for sanitation services. With mass participation, the FSTP in Dhenkanal Municipality caters to the needs of 3 lakh people and 49 tagged GPs.

She has been instrumental in FSSM service delivery and creating awareness on FSSM among the people and SHG members in the city and rural areas. For her contribution to the FSSM service in Dhenkanal Municipality, she has won various accolades and awards at the state and national levels.

Due to her untiring efforts towards FSSM service delivery, more than 19,923.6 KLD sludge has been disposed and Rs. 78 lakh revenue has been generated till now (until May 2023); and 22 women’s SHGs and their communities have been sensitized. In championing the cause as a determined individual and bringing forth her unique skills, Sulochana Sahu has been able to create far-reaching impact

Meghna Sahoo is the President of the Transgender SWIKRUTI Self Help Group (SHG) which has secured livelihoods for numerous members of the transgender community and has aided the efficient execution of sustainable sanitation processes.

Before joining SWIKRUTI, its members depended on begging and sex work to earn a livelihood. They endured harassment and especially painful conditions during the COVID lockdown. Concerned about having a steady source of income and being able to live with dignity, the 17 members joined the SHG, founded in 2018 by Meghna Sahoo.

Meghna came to know that the State has made substantial efforts to include women's SHGs in sanitation work as a source of income and dignity. She was inspired to broaden the horizons of these efforts and proposed to involve transgender SHGs in sanitation duties. She devised a strategy for meeting with the government and, following persistent discussions, the SHG was chosen and hired by the government to run and operate the Basuaghai Fecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP).

This achievement was a turning point for the team members, who thereafter found the Million Dollar Smiles. Not only did Meghna successfully pave the way for transgender inclusivity in the Faecal Sludge and Septage Management space, but through coordination with the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and the Housing and Urban Development Department the SHG members secured capacity and technical resource building for the management of the FSTP. Since July 1, 2022, the Basuaghai FSTP in Bhubaneswar has been operated and managed by the 13-member SWIKRUTI SHG. The trained SHG members ensure seamless execution of FSSM services and create awareness about it in the community and amongst various stakeholders.

Meghna’s innovative action towards inclusivity has led to increased access to safe sanitation and has created a ripple effect in the state of Odisha regarding the livelihood opportunities for transgender communities. Until now, transgender SHGs have been engaged in 7 ULBs (Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Parelakhemundi, Nimapada, Pipili, Tusura, and Jaleswar) for the operation and management of FSTPs. By engaging in this work, the members of Swikruti have not only improved their financial conditions but have also gained respect and acceptance in society as professionals. Meghna has now become a facilitator and sanitation champion who is leading and facilitating all visits and training held in FSTPs toward making this FSTP plant a hub for others to learn from and a model for others to replicate.

The SHG facilitates exposure visits of national and state officials, UN agencies, and other international organizations who come to study the uniqueness of the FSSM model. The impact of these exposure visits is wide-ranging, enabling officials to potentially replicate the revolutionary model in their respective states. The Basughai FSTP plants run smoothly and cater to the needs of both urban and rural areas.

Master Book Keeper(MBK) in Niladunguri Village, Kabarapali GP, Jujumura Block, Sambalpur District

Saraswati Bhoi’s story is that of a Master Book Keeper noticing the state of single pit toilets in her village and taking on leadership to make the village have 100% toilet coverage.

Saraswati Bhoi works as a Master Bookkeeper in Niladunguri Village, Odisha, under the Odisha Livelihood Mission and a member of a women’s self-help group (SHG).

During her work, Saraswati observed that most of the toilets in the village are single pit toilets. These toilets are susceptible to overflowing and can potentially harm the health of the entire community. However, this is not what drove Saraswati to take charge of the situation. Her community believed that these toilets will fill up within a short period, which will force them towards open defecation. This fear is what drove Saraswati to take matters into her own hands. She was determined to convert all single pits into twin pit toilets within her village

Such infrastructural change is not easy and requires persistence as well as resources, but Saraswati was not one to be intimidated by this. She first met all her SHG members, mobilizing them and explaining to them why she was keen on this change. She also engaged with the community resource persons (CRP) to discuss the importance of retrofitting toilets. Once she had all key stakeholders on board, she then focused on coordinating with the Gram Panchayat to conduct a Gram Sabha meeting for mobilizing the community. Despite various obstacles, a Gram Sabha was conducted on 2nd October 2022, in which Saraswati set an example and motivated all CRPs and SHG members to take a pledge to create 100% toilet coverage in the village and to improve cleanliness in her community

This pledge led to the formation of Nigrani Samiti to stop open defecation. The team further undertook coordination and advocacy with the Block administration for the release of WASH loans to SHGs to carry out the retrofitting. They also worked towards capacity building for SHG members with support from UNICEF and through ;oans ranging from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 10,000, for retrofitting toilets to make them functional. Saraswati coordinated with all stakeholders and, with the support of the team, conducted a series of IEC activities to sensitize households about retrofitting, toilet usage, and visual cleanliness.

Through surveys, periodic cleanliness drives, and period meetings, the team managed to achieve 100% retrofitting of toilets, i.e. in 105 households in Niladunguri village. These toilets are actively being used by the beneficiaries, resulting in a drastic reduction of water and airborne diseases.

A Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant(F STP) was constructed at the nearby Urban Local Body for the treatment of sludge from septic tanks from Niladungiri village. The village has achieved the magnificent achievement of becoming ODF+.

The success story of Niladungri village and the efforts of Saraswati Bhoi has motivated Nilima Jouda, a Member of Srustikarta SHG working as CRP in Kkarapali GP of Jujumura Block of Sambalpur district to replicate this model, carry out retrofitting of toilets, and contribute towards the ODF+ journey of Sambalpur district. Saraswati was not just a champion in her community but inspired more women like her to take matters into their hands. Without Saraswati, her community would not have the kind of toilet infrastructure that they now have access to.

Resolving to ‘care for toilet more than her home’, Prema mobilized a group of determined women to tackle the lack of safe sanitation in her community.

When Prema got married, she moved to an informal settlement in Tiruchirappalli. She set foot in a small, rented house lacking in one important amenity: a toilet. To her dismay, there was a single, shoddy toilet meant to be used by the hundreds of people inhabiting the neighbourhood. During rain, the toilet would overflow. With no one to clean, it would fester with insects and germs. The unhygienic conditions exposed Prema and her neighbourhood to serious health implications. There was also a deep sense of shame and isolation, the unhygienic toilet prevented Prema from being able to invite anyone over to their house.

Prema, however, refused to accept circumstances as they were. She approached the Christian Missionary Organization, which was constructing a building in the vicinity. She shared the inhumane suffering of her community and voiced the need for a functional, clean toilet for all. While the Priest ensured the construction of a well-made, infra-structurally sound Community Toilet, he anticipated that the maintenance of the toilet would become a challenge. To address this challenge, Prema stepped in to ensure the toilet would remain clean and usable and be a dignified experience for all who access it. She mobilized a group of 12 determined women and together they formed the Udhayam Women's Self-Help Group – responsible for operation and maintenance of the Community Toilet.

Back in Tuticorin, Prema’s family disapproved of her pursuit. They were ashamed, unable to fathom why Prema would want to work at a toilet, of all places. In the last 20 years, hundreds of families have gotten access to a clean toilet due to Udhayam Women's SHG. The women feel proud to state that even today their toilet is as clean as a park and sustained by its own revenue!

Today, Prema’s children are well educated, employed in formal jobs and keep urging her to retire from managing the community toilet. Prema and a lot of the older community members even have access to individual household toilets today. She, however, reminds her children of how they’ve struggled in the past. It has fostered a fiery sense of duty that she feels towards others who might be in the same situation as they were earlier. She regards cleanliness as an issue of the utmost importance.

Watch Tracing the Tracks to hear directly from Prema: https://youtu.be/B30mMDyfQuU?si=f0lD9jfeCtwt12aw

A resident of Jaipur, Rajasthan, Phoolwati is a vocal champion for sanitation rights.

Phoolwati lives in a densely populated neighborhood, where the average household unit comprises 10 to 15 members – with only one toilet shared among all members. Some of the households lack even one toilet. Due to the elevation at which her basti (informal, densely populated settlement) is situated and the lack of space, people are unable to construct toilets for their households, despite great need.

In the absence of Individual Household Toilets (IHHTs), the need for the construction of a Community Toilet in the neighborhood was felt. During the COVID-19 lockdown, this need was recognized with greater urgency. Due to high restrictions on mobility, people could not venture far from their homes to access toilets in other areas, they were turned away by the police. Phoolwati was moved by the immense distress this caused her community, who were left with no dignified means to fulfill their sanitation needs.

She conferred with the members of the Single Window Forum and it was decided that the first order of business was setting up a toilet for people of the community who had to resort to open defecation and also for passers-by through the neighborhood. Single Window Forum is a community-facilitated platform, set up by the Centre for Advocacy and Research, that brings together service providers of the municipal corporation and end-users who reside in informal settlements to enable delivery of timely and affordable sanitation services.

As someone who was a firm believer that toilets must foster safety and inclusivity for everyone, especially those who are vulnerable in society such as pregnant women, senior citizens, people with disabilities and adolescent girls, she ensured that the toilet infrastructure is sensitive to the differential needs of different citizen groups. The toilet has helped prevent open defecation in her neighborhood, resulting in dignified access to sanitation as well as more healthy and hygienic environments.

Click here to read on more about Single Window Forum and community management centers instituted by the Centre for Advocacy and Research (a member of the NFSSM Alliance) are advocating for and institutionalizing inclusive sanitation: https://cfar.org.in/category/uncategorized/

Afsana, residing in Budhni town of Madhya Pradesh, is a mother to a 6-year-old daughter and an active community participant. Water and sanitation issues were prevalent in her neighborhood, motivating Afsana to take action. She participated in community meetings and training sessions that WaterAid organized, leading her to work closely with her community on waste management and cleanliness.

A strong believer in communities’ participation as the vehicle for progress, Afsana led efforts to sensitize people on the importance of water, sanitation and hygiene. Her persistent advocacy struck a chord with her neighbors and resulted in greater awareness about WASH related matters. To transform awareness into action, she also went on to collectivize a citizen's group in her neighborhood and was elected as its chairperson.

As part of her work as the Chairperson, Afsana conducted a survey to identify households which did not have access to toilets. She identified 90 such households in her neighborhood and utilized the data to collaborate with the Municipal Corporation of Budhni in building proper toilets for those 90 families and enabling them to access safe sanitation. Additionally, Afsana advocated for a water pump to be installed in her area, and her persistence paid off when the Municipal Corporation fulfilled her request. Now, the community enjoys easier access to water, whereas earlier they had to travel over half a kilometer simply to collect water.

Afsana’s story is a reminder of the pivotal role that women's leadership plays in improving sanitation and hygiene conditions in communities. Her unwavering commitment towards her community’s wellbeing has resulted in a transformative and lasting impact. Afsana continues to work towards WASH in her town and also inspires others to make positive changes in their communities.

Hailing from Kandamahal in Odisha, Banita, a tribal woman in her 40s, migrated to Bhubaneshwar over two decades ago and has since resided in Adivasi Gaon. With a strong belief in the transformative power of education, Banita strived to pursue her studies up to the 10th standard. Her dedication extended to tutoring tribal children in primary school during her free time. Beyond teaching, driven by a passion for social change, Banita actively engaged in community development by joining a women’s self-help group (SHG) and a Mahila Arogya Samiti. Her commitment led her to assume a leadership role as the Secretary of her SHG.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Banita was quick to recognize the importance of safe access to water and sanitation services. She was convinced that Water and Sanitation lie at the very core of our problems and must be addressed to achieve a better quality of life. This realization led her to join the ‘Community Management Committee’ facilitated by the Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR).

A CMC is a community-based forum of women formed and facilitated by CFAR and CBOs, and is a critical vehicle for community mobilisation. It is responsible for creating community awareness, raising WASH-related issues, supervising and monitoring the implementation of sanitation infrastructure and services, and supervising O&M of CTCs.

In order to raise community awareness towards sanitation and raise community demand for sanitation services, Banita enthusiastically pursued a comprehensive training program with CFAR. This helped her develop a firm grasp over liquid waste management, especially mechanized desludging services. To register online demand for desludging services she also learnt to operate apps and other online tools. Desludging is the process of removing scum and sludge layers from a septic tank. While it is essential to regularly empty septic tanks to ensure proper sanitation and hygiene, due to lack of proper awareness there isn’t enough demand for desludging.

An enigmatic force, Banita reached out to over 1,000 households and single-handedly scaled the demand for desludging services. Especially passionate about connecting tribal households with water and sanitation services, she utilized QR codes to link over 150 tribal households to desludging services. She actively promotes the Janhit Vaani mobile radio, facilitated by CFAR, to ensure that communities can record their grievances on mobile devices. These recordings are then uploaded to the grievance redress portal of Bhubaneshwar Municipal Corporation, enabling efficient resolution of issues.

Banita's efforts have resulted in helping approximately 300 households regularize waste collection and access water supply twice a day, effectively meeting their daily needs. Her dedication and commitment to improving the living conditions of her community are commendable, and she continues to be an influential force in driving positive change.

Read on: https://www.waterforwomenfund.org/en/news/centre-for-advocacy-and-research-awarded-for-outstanding-contribution-to-city-sanitation.aspx

Since 2022, Gangotri has been actively immersed in sanitation efforts through her affiliation with a Self Help Group. Her SHG is responsible for overseeing the operation and maintenance of the Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant in Kumhari, Chhattisgarh. Gangotri diligently contributes to the plant's efficient functioning through hands-on work in its operation and maintenance. Her work with the SHG, has allowed her to gain access to productive employment. Being able to take home her earnings has resulted in a subtle yet unmissable difference to Gangotri’s life.

Gangotri holds a profound commitment to Swachhta, considering cleanliness and hygiene as the guiding mission for her and her fellow Self Help Group (SHG) members in all their endeavors. With unwavering dedication, she ensures the operational efficiency of the Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) and tirelessly works to raise awareness on a subject often overlooked.

Gangotri goes beyond her duties by educating citizens on the safe treatment of human waste, emphasizing the significance of FSTPs. Her aim is to sensitize individuals so that they actively participate in maintaining cleanliness. As part of her daily routine, Gangotri engages in door-to-door visits to households with septic tanks, enlightening them about the importance of regular desludging—specifically, once every three years. Following her explanation of the necessity for septic tank maintenance, she provides households with the toll-free number '1100,' enabling them to contact septic tank cleaning vehicles.

In her role, Gangotri exemplifies community leadership, playing a pivotal role in guiding citizens through the journey of ODF++, underlining the importance of community involvement beyond mere infrastructure development. Gangotri firmly believes that sanitation cannot be limited to those who work in it but requires the active participation of all concerned citizens. She even ensures that she makes an effort to teach her own children of the virtues of cleanliness and hygiene.

Asha Pradhan is a resident of Ward No. 9 of the Budhni Nagar Parishad. Her husband, Basant Pradhan, works for a private company, and their elder son is employed as a guard in a tractor company, while their younger son is studying in the 9th grade. Asha had been volunteering with the WaterAid team from the beginning. Her husband encouraged her to work as a volunteer with the WaterAid team so that she could increase her knowledge and help the deprived community in supporting them.

Asha Pradhan, a resident of Budhni Nagar Parishad, Sehore District, Madhya Pradesh, has been volunteering with WaterAid, a non-governmental organization focused-on water, sanitation and hygiene. She started working with the team to conduct surveys for sewerage connections. The municipal area was estimated to have sewers in 3,200. However, upon completion of the survey, the team could establish only 1,020 such sewer connections. Thereafter, Asha went from house to house informing people about the benefits of sewerage connections and the processes of dealing with wastewater. She also facilitated community meetings to raise awareness and prepare people to establish connections to the sewer line. Through this campaign, connections were successfully established for about 2,470 homes.

In recognition of her dedicated efforts towards cleanliness and sanitation, the Ward No. 9 Mohalla Committee of the Nagar Parishad elected Asha as the Chairman of the Committee. She took the responsibility of ensuring cleanliness in the locality herself. Being vigilant about the cleanliness in her ward, Asha began coordinating with the Sanitary Inspector of the municipal corporation to carry out cleaning work. People from the community began to approach Asha, with their concerns rather than going to their elected representative, confident that she can provide help resolve them.

Asha’s tireless efforts extend beyond cleanliness and sanitation. She has taken it upon herself to educate women from underprivileged communities on menstrual hygiene. Asha teaches them to make pads from cloth and uses WaterAid’s educational games to educate young girls and debunk menstrual hygiene myths, which is highly commendable.

As a result of Asha's dedication, the community is benefiting from improved sanitation, access to sewer lines, and menstrual hygiene education. Open water channels that used to attract mosquitoes and garbage are no longer seen, and the dependency on the municipality to empty household toilets has been reduced. Significant improvements have been made in municipal cleanliness, and myths related to menstrual hygiene have been debunked.

Asha's selfless service has not only earned her the respect of the community but has also made her family very proud. Her efforts are a shining example of how individuals can make a significant difference in their community by taking responsibility and working towards a common goal.

“We are ostracised from society and always have difficulty in accessing even our basic needs. Beggary isn’t an option, not a dignified one. And we deserve dignity. There are many more barriers we will have to face, but it is nice to know that some people are helping us to overcome them. I wish to do the same for my community, as well.” 

O Laila shoulders immense responsibility in her community in Warangal, Telangana. Despite her complicated past where her transgender identity has always been called into question, she chose to take centre-stage and champion the cause of the transgender community in the city. Laila had to leave her native village very early in life so that she could hold on to her sense of identity. An absolute model of resilience, she does not speak of the past. Instead, in the face of rejection, Laila chose to equip herself with education. A post-graduate herself, she strongly believes in the power of education in shaping one’s future and has been influential in the education of transgender youth in the community. She believes that any job is, and should be a viable option for them which is the first step towards dignity. With her leadership skills and strong vision, she has been able to bring together a group of transgender people under the umbrella of an NGO called the Modern Awareness Society (MAS). 

Active since 2004, the organisation focuses on alleviating the problems faced by the transgender community and the urban poor. Today, with her efforts, there are about seven transgender Self-Help Groups in Warangal. Her hard work has earned her recognition. The MAS has been awarded a contract for the operation and maintenance of a community toilet in Warangal by the Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC) in June 2020. This has been one of their most outstanding achievements on their path for a sustainable livelihood and leading dignified lives. She is also a member of the City Sanitation Task Force (CSTF) of Warangal. With this role, she has taken the opportunity to serve as a spokesperson for her community with the potential of addressing critical areas like the lack of access to dedicated toilets for the transgender community. She continues to leverage her membership and lend her voice to contribute to the sanitation decision-making by GWMC actively. 

She is also championing the cause for exclusive toilets for the community and exploring various livelihood options across the sanitation value chain for them.