Dhivya is a determined entrepreneur from Tiruchirappalli. Despite facing multiples challenges by entering into a male-dominated area of work, she channelled her business acumen into a thriving desludging venture.

As a child, Dhivya yearned to grow up to someday become a policewoman. But as circumstances would have it, she could not continue her education beyond the 8th standard. She did, however, even as a young girl have quite the knack for business. She was quick to learn when she started helping out with her aunt’s business, an experience which taught her how to manage books and understand the complex requirements of running a business.

Today, Dhivya has translated her entrepreneurial spirit into a flourishing Desludging business which she runs along with her husband. (Desludging is the process of removal of sediments from septic tanks for households which are not connected to sewers and instead rely on On-site Sanitation Systems).

Dhivya receives desludging orders on her phone, fixes the rate for cleaning with the client. Her husband or a hired driver drives the septic tank cleaning lorry to the client’ house. The cleaning is carried out using powerful hose pipes to avoid manual entry, the waste is then transported and emptied at a decanting station. Earlier they used to do cleaning and transportation of waste between the two of them but now they have hired additional people to help them. She sold a piece of land to buy the vehicle and paid off the amount in installments. Recognizing a viable demand for septic tanks, she also started selling septic tanks, thereby earning commission on them.

Dhivya is a firm believer in the fact that women can and should enter roles which have traditionally only been reserved for men. Despite the stigma and hassles she faced, she is proud of the example she has set through her work as a desludging operator – her presence makes the women whose households they visit for desludging septic tanks feel a lot more comfortable. Through her dedication, Dhivya has been able to build a credible presence among her clients! She aspires to expand her business further by acquiring more septic tank cleaning vehicles. Her aim is to expand her house further and give both her children a quality education.

In Tiruchirappalli, a thriving town in the state of Tamil Nadu, a limited percentage of desludging demand is met by the Government. The rest is being increasingly catered to by private operators and ‘micropreneurs’ such as Dhivya. Regularly desludging plays an important role towards environmental protection and preservation of water quality. Click here to learn more about business models in faecal sludge and septage management.

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

Married at the age of 18, Madhu lived a quiet life in a joint family in Baldev Vihar, Lucknow, with her husband and three children. She built her life around her family and continued to live that way till one day her husband lost his job. This put her family in unprecedented circumstances with financial difficulties and Madhu was determined to see how she could solve for the same. She and her husband saw a growing demand for desludging in their locality and after speaking to a few businesses in their vicinity, they decided to take the leap and start a desludging tanker business of their own.

The business required heavy financial investment when they started it and both of them decided to invest their entire retirement savings into it with the hope that this venture will give them and their children the security they needed. Despite putting their entire savings into the business, they soon realized that they needed additional funds which led them to apply for a loan of of INR 7 lakh in Madhu's name from a local bank in 2013. The loan came through and thus, Madhu transitioned into becoming a businesswoman.

While the plan initially was for Madhu as well as her husband to run the business, fate had other plans for them. Her husband was offered a job as a security guard 75 kilometers away and keeping their financial constraints in mind, he decided to take the job. Suddenly, Madhu was left to take care of the business alone. De-sludging can be a gendered profession with mostly men running a business in this space across the country. Madhu defied societal norms by deciding to run this business with no help. Her decision shocked her children, her family, and society. However, her husband played a key role in negotiating with her ecosystem to create a space for Madhu to thrive and thrive she did!

The early days were challenging, with employees and drivers not taking her seriously. She handled business inquiries and negotiations over the phone. Maintenance issues, irregular tipping fees, and improper desludging posed additional hurdles. Through determination and a customer-first approach, Madhu mastered the nuances of the business and ensured the timely repayment of the tanker loan.

Madhu's courageous venture transformed her family's financial situation. Madhu credits Population Services International (PSI) India for forming the tanker operator association in Lucknow during the #ATF project. This initiative facilitated private operators' integration into public systems, addressing challenges like tipping fees, disposal sites, and registration. PSI's support during the COVID-19 lockdown ensured uninterrupted desludging operations, allowing registered Private Tanker Operators like Madhu to continue their businesses and support their staff.

Madhu's role in the executive committee of the Septic Tanker Operator Welfare Association reflects her success and acceptance in the predominantly male profession of faecal sludge management. Exemplifying the power of determination, Madhu believes in challenging traditional livelihoods to change societal perspectives and encourages more women to join the movement for sanitation reform in the country.

At the age of twenty-two, Snehal, a driven and career-focused individual, holds the role of Site-Incharge at the Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) managed by Tide Technocrats in Wai, Maharashtra. From the plant's inception, she has effectively overseen its operations and takes immense pride in her venture within the sanitation sector. Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in engineering, Snehal resides in Rautwadi, situated 26 km away from Wai. Her inclination toward technology and engineering and desire for a hands-on field experience prompted her to apply for the position of Site in-charge for an FSTP.

Initially, she faced challenges such as difficulty in understanding the nature of the work, handling male workers and travelling to the FSTP since it was at a considerable distance from her residence. But with time and tremendous support from family, she was able to overcome all these challenges. With her hard work, she gained respect amidst the staff and has since been successfully managing the FSTP. The initial 3 months of COVID-19 were particularly challenging for Snehal; workers were apprehensive about coming to the site. But with support from the TIDE team, assured the workers of safety. The FSTP has been successfully operational, even during the pandemic.

Besides operating the plant, Snehal has also been raising awareness about Faecal Sludge and Septage Management and its importance within her community. Her family is very proud of her achievements and has been incredibly supportive and helpful in managing her work with her studies.

"If I can do it, any girl can. Working sincerely is the key to earn respect and to get everyone to listen to you. Girls and women should be encouraged to pursue their careers. The practical experience gained will be beneficial in the long run. Receiving the award for best employee of the month was an achievement for me."

Haneshwar Prashad Chandel is a dedicated Operator in the Faecel Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) in Kumhari, Chhattisgarh.

The second of three brothers, Haneshwar attained a B.Sc. in biotechnology from Kalyan College. Due to hardships at home, he had to leave home soon after marriage with his wife. He found work in the sewage lines in Kumhari and worked there for 2 years. Amidst the various people doing site visits during the development of a plant, there was an engineer, working with whom earned Haneshwar the responsibility of Operator at the FSTP. He has now been working as an Operator for 2 years.

Haneshwar’s work involves maintenance of the site, including gardening, pond maintenance, screen chamber maintenance, filtering the sludge, coordination with the FSTP drivers, emptying the trucks and measuring the PH and temperature of the sludge. He also maintains records of the trucks arriving at the plant with details of where they have come from.

Many aspects of his work are difficult. While helmets and masks help protect against poisonous gases such as methane, it is the physical labour involved in jobs such as gardening that become taxing, often leaving him incapacitated for a couple of days. One wonders whether such hardships combined with general taboos cause his family and community to be concerned about his profession. He claims, however, that his community does not look down upon his work and appreciates his profession.

Haneshwar believes that the cleaner one keeps the FSTP, the better the well-being of the workers operating it will be. For him, proper maintenance of the FSTP is the priority and nothing takes precedence over this priority. With his salary, he supports his family of four. He wishes to educate his 2 sons and hopes that they join the family business that he dreams of. With the money him and his wife have saved and with a loan for the rest, they wish to open a tailor’s shop.

Embodying his inspiring values, Haneshwar says that one must do whatever work they’re doing with dedication. He believes that unless you can keep your surroundings clean, nobody else will, and that if you demonstrate hygiene then you can inspire others to follow suit.

Yakkoppu was assigned male at birth 40 years back, but growing up they felt captivated by clothes, makeup and ornaments worn by women. They were also drawn to the activity of people applying manjal (turmeric) on their face and body. Through their childhood years, Yakkoppu struggled to unpack their gender identity and their family’s lack of understanding around this made things worse for him. The only person who accepted them for who they were was their mother. Eventually as the conflict in the family became worse, Yakkoppu decided to leave home at the age of 15 and their mother accompanied them. Over time, Yakkoppu identified themselves as thirunambi – 'a trans person’'

Since childhood, Yakkoppu was always keen to be involved in social work and contribute towards the society. As they grew up, they dedicated their time towards helping people in different ways and recently they took on the role of a community toilet caretaker with the same intention.

In 2020, while a community toilet was under construction near their rented home, Yakkoppu and their mother used to safeguard the construction materials. Impressed by their dedication and help, the Sanitary Inspector asked Yakkoppu if they would be interested to work as a caretaker for the community toilet upon its completion. During this time, Yakkoppu’s mother expired, and they immersed themselves with the caretaker duty. Eventually they also came to know about the Thendral Transgender Self-Help Group (SHG) where they truly felt accepted. They also supported other trans persons in their area and helped them join the SHG too, demonstrating how effective the transgender SHG model is effective in the sector.

As the caretaker, Yakkoppu starts their day as early as 4:30 am. They open the community toilet after cleaning it thoroughly and put traditional Tamil art, Kolam in front of the door. They are the busiest in the morning till noon and they stop working at 8 pm. With a lot of dedication, they keep the toilet clean and manage the stock books to ensure the community toilet is financially sustainable. Their only request to the society is to support the trans community and not alienate them. Yakkoppu strongly believes that trans people are capable of exceling in all professions including sanitation if only they are given the opportunity to lead respectful and dignified lives.

Learn more about Yakkoppu’s journey:

Nama, a sewer entry professional, resides in Cuttack and commutes to Bhubaneswar daily for work. Name Nayak’s was introducted to sanitation work by his uncle who is a sanitation worker himself and has worked in providing sanitation services for over 5 years. His work schedule extends from 7 am to 7 pm, with no breaks in between. He avoids taking leaves, knowing that a backlog of complaints would pile up in his absence.

Nama has received comprehensive training in Bhubaneswar that encompasses the operation of different tools and machinery such as grabbers and jetting machines. In the past, the thought of physically entering the sewer to remove sludge used to intimidate him, and rightly so. However, with the mechanisation of processes, manual entry is no longer required. Nama and his fellow sanitation workers, participated in training and capacity building sessions, which have helped sensitize them on the importance and proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and checking for hazardous gases before entering sewerage chambers, keeping safety as a priority.

Even with such protection, however, taboos are difficult to surmount. People often speak to Nama while standing at a distance, judging him due to the nature of his work. He expresses frustration that people often fail to comprehend the challenges involved in sanitation work. When he visits sites for servicing, people often view him and his fellow workers as an “inconvenience” not understanding the importance or role of their services.

In the thick of a demanding profession, Nama appreciates the presence of Garima Grihas, a private rest facility that provides lockers, water, and other amenities for sanitation workers to rest and have adequate space to clean up, giving not only a much-needed respite after performing strenuous labour but also acts as a site which helps preserve their dignity. They no longer have to depend upon others for basic amenities such as food and water, nor do they have to travel with a dirtied uniform. Nama hopes that with the continued demonstration of hygiene he, and other sanitation professionals, can be treated with dignity.

Nama holds a deep-seated aspiration for his children to receive a top-notch education, driven by his unwavering belief in the power of knowledge and the doors it can open.

Muthulakshmi, a 37-year old woman from Tiruchirappalli, has been employed as a full-time sanitation worker at a school for the past 7 years of experience. Every morning, she rises promptly at 5 am, and after completing household chores, she arrives at the school by 8:30 am. At the school, she ensures cleanliness at the micro scale: ensuring wash basins, toilets, corridors, and classrooms remain clean throughout the day. Besides maintaining a clean environment, she actively assists young children, particularly toddlers, while using the restroom. She educates young girls about essential menstrual hygiene practices, teaching them the proper disposal of napkins and the safe utilization of the incinerator. She approaches children with remarkable patience and compassion, prioritizing their well-being over other things.

She refuses to feel ‘disgust’ or ‘humiliation’ in performing her duties as a sanitation worker. She regards her work with as a crucial act of care and service to be perceived with dignity and not stigma. The COVID-19 pandemic instilled in her a greater recognition of the importance of safety. She diligently employs protective gear such as gloves, masks, and aprons while carrying out her cleaning tasks. She has a militant commitment to maintaining a hygienic and safe environment for everyone in the school.

The heartfelt appreciation she receives from the school children is a source of joy for her. Being referred to as "Amma" by the children fills her with happiness and a sense of belonging. Her motivation to work diligently stems from her desire to provide for her family, ensuring she can afford the bus fare for her children, so that she can send them to school every day. Her dreams extend beyond financial stability; she aspires to provide a quality education and a better future for her children and offer support to her aging parents.

Through her empathetic nature and refusal to give into societal stigma, Muthulakshmi plays a pivotal role in educating tomorrow’s citizens on maintaining safe and hygienic practices, making her a true Champion!

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

"Before the FSTP was established, the untreated waste was disposed directly into the water, now my job ensures that sewage water is recycled"

From Mannargudi, 35-year old Bharati, holds a bachelor's degree in commerce. However, he could only pursue his job in banking for a short while before he had to quit. During a period of unemployment, he worked as a daily laborer for the construction of a Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant. His technical understanding of the plant and its processes impressed others upon completion, leading to him being sought after to become the FSTP Operator.

Bharathi recounts how prior to the setting up of the FSTP, the untreated waste used to be openly disposed into the river. However, with the implementation of Tamil Nadu State Level FSSM Plan, the plant was established. The polluted water caused immense damage to water bodies and surrounding ecosystem. It was a moment of pride for Bharathi, when people who lived nearby visited the plant and understood how it was a better alternative than direct disposal of waste into water bodies. They were quite impressed by the FSTP’s functioning! Bharathi ensures safety protocols and monitoring guidelines such as registering vehicles, checking them for pH levels, removing plastics from screen chamber are followed diligently, wearing masks, handling equipment with care, etc.

Knowing its crucial role in safeguarding the environment and protecting communities, Bharathi feels immensely fulfilled by his job. The FSTP recycles sewage water, which earlier used to impact the farmlands in the area. The Mannarguri FSTP also runs on solar power.Even his family visited him at the plant and felt proud of his occupation. Bharathi prefers this work over his previous experience as a daily wage earner due to the sense of financial stability it has given him. As the sole breadwinner of his family, his chief aim is to take care of his family by ensuring better housing and a decent education for his children.

Babuli Nayak is a certified Sewer Entry Professional who lives and works in Bhubaneshwar.

His journey, however, starts in a small village in Nayagarh district of Odisha where he was born and raised. Having grown up with barely enough to make ends meet, Babuli decided at a young age to migrate to the city of Bhubaneshwar for better opportunities to make a living. In Bhubaneshwar, he found work in sewage cleaning and maintenance through his nephew, who is a sanitation worker himself.

The work involved hard labour and had risks and hazards. In addition to which, Babuli had to face the brunt of social prejudices and stigma. People would express disgust, refuse to speak to him or offer him water – since his work required him to deal with human waste.

With over a decade long experience in service delivery, Babuli speaks of his job with pride. He feels that there is no shame in working in dirt and sewage, since after all it is a job too. He recognizes the crucial role played by his work in ensuring the health and hygiene of citizens. However, retrospectively Babuli realizes that a lot more could have been done for the well-being of sanitation workers like him in the last decades.

Over the years, Babuli observed the sanitation sector change in a way that enabled dignified lives for sanitation workers. After the implementation of the GARIMA scheme in Odisha, Babuli received training for 2 days to learn how to operate machines and to also understand the critical role that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) plays in their safety. After this training, he was formally recognized as a Sewer Entry Professional by the Odisha Government, enabling him to earn more than the minimum wage and send money back to his family in the village. The government also constructed ‘Garima Grihas’ - small community centers exclusively for sanitation workers to take breaks, rest and clean themselves with dignity. He considers his work to be a service to people; a good deed through which he is earning people’s blessings.

To learn more about how the Government of Odisha Government is front running the effort to make sanitation a dignified profession for sanitation workers such as Babuli, click to learn more about the GARIMA Scheme.

Bandi Manemma is a Septic Truck Operator who had always aspired to be an independent woman capable of meeting her own needs as well as those of her family. She tried establishing various ventures but none of them proved successful.

When the Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC) approached Bandi with an offer to engage in septic tank work, she was hesitant at first. Initially, she had reservations because she doubted her ability to invest in the business without sufficient funds. However, she overcame her hesitation since she had witnessed several people in sanitation business earning a decent profit. GWMC intervened and provided crucial support by facilitating a seven-year loan, enabling Bandi Manemma to purchase her own septic tank truck. Furthermore, equipped with training provided by GWMC on the proper utilization of personal protective equipment, she soon earned a license to operate the truck within the city limits. Since then, Bandi has cleaned over 36 septic tanks, leading to a notable improvement in her financial situation. Loan opportunities help individuals such as Bandi in becoming micro-entrepreneurs contributing to overall financial well-being and the opportunity to lead a dignified livelihood.

She aspires to see her children receive a quality education and progress in life, when she observes their dedication to their studies and ambitious dreams, it fills her with profound happiness and pride.

Baset Hasda, a sewer worker from Jamshedpur, is no ordinary individual. Hailing from a tribal family in Jharkhand, Baset has spent the last 12 years dedicated to the crucial task of cleaning sewer lines and drains. As the sole breadwinner of his family, he has not only supported his family but also contributed to improving their living conditions through his work.

Throughout his journey, Baset has experienced the realities of his profession firsthand. Every day, he faces the challenges of working in sewer holes, dealing with congested drains, ensuring proper drainage. Over time, he became aware of the risks his job carried. Without adequate equipment, his tasks would take hours to complete, putting him at greater risk of exposure to health hazards, harmful gases, and life-threatening diseases like cardiovascular degeneration and musculoskeletal disorders. Despite the dangers, Baset had no alternative but to continue his job, given that he was the sole provider for his family.

Baset participated in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs’ ‘Safai Mitra Challenge’. The initiative gave Baset and his fellow sewer workers access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and modern mechanised tools to perform their work. Through essential protective equipment such as goggles, masks, and protective gear, Baset was able to take charge of his safety and effectively minimize the risks associated with his occupation. Through comprehensive training sessions, Baset and his colleagues gained valuable knowledge on disease prevention and proper handling of PPE. Further, they learned to seek immediate medical attention if they displayed any signs or symptoms of illness, such as vomiting, stomach cramps, or watery diarrhea. This resulted in a safer working environment and improved hygiene practices, ultimately contributing to the well-being and health of both the workers and the community they served. The Safai Mitra Suraksha initiative proved to be a lifeline for people like Baset, who diligently provide essential services to the community. With the provision of adequate facilities and training, Baset and his colleagues could now visit numerous locations in a day, resolving city sanitation issues. Not only did this initiative improve their work efficiency, but it also the residents’ concerns promptly. Earning a decent income has helped Baset fulfill his needs and support his family.

Venkatalakshmi is a resident of Narsapur, Andhra Pradesh where she has been running her septic tank cleaning business for over 25 years. A skilled businesswoman, Venkatalakshmi, recognised the opportunity to run a business, cleaning septic tanks and seized it. She secured financing to purchase desludging trucks, hired drivers, painted the trucks to make them appealing, and advertised them all over town.

At multiple points, her decision to work in the field of sanitation has been questioned. People have been quick to label her work as ‘dirty’. She and her team have also borne insults and abuses while disposing of waste – the social stigma around dealing with faecal matter has made these risks inherent to their job. Even her everyday activities of travelling by a truck, handling clients, independently operating a business are seen with suspicion. Venkatalakshmi has on numerous occasions encountered disparaging comments like “Why is this woman doing a man’s job?”

Venkatalakshmi, however, remains adamant in her defiance of such thinking. She refuses to feel disgusted or ashamed by her work, rather considers it to be of crucial importance to society. She has been a beacon in defying gender roles in sanitation-based livelihoods. She secures details of the client’s location, type of septic tank and sends one of her two desludging trucks (vehicles which allow for mechanised cleaning of pit latrines and septic tanks) to their homes. Impressed by her thoroughness and attention to detail, her clients are appreciative of her efforts. She has been recognised by the municipality as one of their empanelled desludging operators, after getting her vehicle registered as a licensed vehicle of the municipality, it has become harder for people to shame and point fingers at her.

Narsapur which is home to nearly 15,300 households has no sewage system; toilets are connected to pits and septic tanks that require emptying when full. Earlier, faecal sludge used to be removed manually from septic tanks and was dumped on the roads in the open, a practice which was environmentally hazardous and undignified for sanitation workers. Venkatalakshmi has devoted over 25 years of her life towards building and maintaining a sustainable business model for the safe transportation of faecal sludge from the containment unit to the treatment plant. It has been a herculean step towards minimizing the detrimental health and environmental impacts of indiscriminate dumping of human waste in water bodies and land.

Sheetal Kinnar’s journey towards sanitation work is marked by exceptional courage. Born as Chandan in rural Odisha, Sheetal grew up in a joint family, navigating a complex existence as a man at home and a woman in her community. Her life was marred by abuse, harassment, and isolation. For the sake of her financial independence, Sheetal was forced to work with her tormenting brothers who did not accept her for who she is.

In 2005, Sheetal found her true self within the transgender community. Embraced by the transgender community, she renamed herself Sheetal Kinnar and became deeply involved in community work, driven by a determination to empower her fellow transgender individuals. Her remarkable communication and leadership skills eventually led her to contest the general elections in 2019.

Sheetal's journey led to the formation of 'Bahucharamata,' a self-help group for transgender individuals. Starting with modest ventures like producing home-based cleaning products, the group's dedication to community welfare caught the attention of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC).

The CMC entrusted them with operating and maintaining a Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant in Cuttack. Through rigorous training, Sheetal and her team learned the intricacies of sanitation management. This partnership not only offered them stable income but also dignified work. Each member now earns approximately Rs. 10,000 per month, marking a significant improvement in their lives.

Sheetal Kinnar's journey, from personal struggle to empowering her community and managing a treatment plant, stands as a powerful symbol of transformation and hope for the transgender community and beyond.

Braving through the pandemic to enable access to the basic necessity of a community toilet, Maya Bai inspired fellow sanitation workers to undertake services with proper equipment.

Maya Bai, a dedicated resident and sanitation worker, has faithfully served the Ganj Basoda Nagar Palika Parishad in Madhya Pradesh for an impressive 35 years. Her primary responsibility involves the cleaning and maintenance of Ward 22, Chudi Mohalla, within the city.

Maya Bai's story took an extraordinary turn when the COVID-19 pandemic swept into her city, particularly affecting the residential area, Ward 22, where her team operates. As the first case emerged in this zone, it was declared a containment area, with strict restrictions preventing anyone from entering. However, the daily cleaning and maintenance of the community toilet in this ward remained a fundamental necessity.

Amidst reluctance from other sanitation workers to enter this high-risk area, Maya Bai stepped forward with remarkable courage. She volunteered for the daunting task of single-handedly maintaining the community toilet. In this critical moment, she accepted the challenge to ensure the safety of the ward's residents. Maya demonstrates how crisis service providers can end up prioritizing the continuity of their service over their own safety. It is crucial for all members of society to remember how dependent we are on them and to acknowledge their role as frontline service providers. Maya’s act of bravery earned her the gratitude of the local authorities and the admiration of the residents.

After 35 years of dedicated service, Maya Bai is set to retire this year. However, her retirement does not dampen her commitment, which is as strong as when she began her journey as a sanitation worker three and a half decades ago. Maya Bai's story exemplifies the necessity of sanitation work, and the resilience and dedication she demonstrated during challenging times. It also serves as a reminder as to how dependent we are on the services of individuals and that the safety and dignity of frontline workers should be a top-priority in cities.

Manju Bengaraj is a women’s SHG member whose leadership inspired 2200 SHG members and their families towards safe sanitation. Manju’s story is that of how a community leader can play a crucial role in helping communities envision a better future. Though an FSTP now runs successfully in Dhenkanal Municipality, Odisha, it was not the easiest road. In the initial days of the FSTP construction, there was some public resistance during its installation and limited engagement to run and operate it.

Manju is the Secretary of Jagruti Women’s Self-Help Group (SHG) and the President of Area Level Federation, which has signed a contract with the Dhenkanal Municipality to manage both the Cesspool and the FSTP. In the initial days of the FSTP planning and construction, Manju worked day and night to create awareness about FSSM services, their benefits, the importance of being ODF, and safely managed sanitation amongst the SHGs in her locality through group meetings and periodic IEC activities using leaflets, wall writings, and rallies in the town. Even though this was not an easy task, Manju never backed down and showed courageous leadership to mobilize SHG members to expedite FSSM services to people.

The Jeevan Jyoti Area Level Federation (ALF) now comprises 44 members of 22 Women SHGs. Under Manju’s district leadership, 11 members work in the plant and are well trained in its daily operation and maintenance, including desludging, treatment, disposal, landscaping, composting, etc. In addition, she provides support to the SHGs to improve their financial planning as part of Pachasutra (under Livelihood Mission). This engagement has created livelihood opportunities with dignity for women in these groups.

Manju has been working as a plant operator for 4 years and is leading and facilitating all visits to the FSTP. She has become a sanitation champion, making this FSTP a training hub and spoke model. Manju is a torch bearer for community members and for other women to join the movement towards sustainable sanitation and to make Dhenkanal Municipality clean and sustainable.

Nitin Sonkar provides sanitation services as part of the workforce employed in the Durg Municipal Corporation, Chhattisgarh.

Nitin has three children, two girls and a boy. As the sole breadwinner of the family, he is committed to providing them with a good education and a secure future. However, weighed down by financial burdens, he was finding it difficult to continue his children's education. In addition to his financial worries, he was concerned about the safety of his job too, since it meant handling sewage and sludge regularly, without adequate equipment. This heightened his anxiety.

The Government launched the Safai Mitra Challenge to encourage cities to mechanize their sewer and septic tank cleaning operations, aiming to prevent deaths and fatalities among sanitation workers due to hazardous conditions. Nitin was happy to learn about the provision of PPE kits and their associated benefits. Nitin received his PPE kit, complete with a mask, gloves, and a cap, along with other essential tools to ensure his safety during work. This new equipment also came with a new identity as a sanitation worker, as he donned his fresh uniform. Furthermore, to enhance their capacity, Nitin and his colleagues were provided with intensive training, encompassing both theoretical and practical sessions, on how to effectively use the PPE kits and dispose of them. Provision of Personal Protective Equipment and other safety measures is an essential right for all Sanitation Workers, to ensure that their work is dignified and protected from occupational hazards.

Expressing his gratitude, Nitin humbly remarked, "After the implementation of Safai Mitra Suraksha, I have experienced a great change in my work and personal life. The training program has allowed me to carry out my job more efficiently, and I have also been linked to a health scheme by the state government. I finally feel like I can work and function with dignity in society. I may not be very good with my words, but this has truly been a boon for me."

Now equipped with modern tools and equipment, Nitin and his colleagues can fulfill their responsibilities efficiently and without risking their lives. The ability to excel in their jobs and visit numerous households was previously unimaginable due to the manual nature of their work and the lack of adequate equipment. Nitin's newfound confidence assures him that he can now send his children back to school in the upcoming season, instilling hope and a brighter future for his family.

Tejaswini Gaikwad grew up in a small village called Menavli in Maharashtra. While growing up, she was an ambitious girl who dreamt of building her career and becoming successful. She dedicated herself towards her education and was eventually able to finish her higher secondary schooling majoring in science. Her education gave her confidence and enabled her to access the right opportunities to build a sustainable career for herself.

A 24-year-old Tejaswini applied for a vacancy at Sumeet Facilities Pvt Ltd – a firm that was working closely with the Wai Municipal Council for scheduled desludging. (Desludging is the process of removing both the scum and the sludge layers from your primary septic tank, usually with a vacuum truck that comes along to essentially pump them out through the top access lid). Wai was 4 kms away from her village and while Tejaswini was not aware of the process of desludging, she was keen to learn. In a few days, she got the job and was excited for the opportunity.

Her role required her to understand the process of desludging well and most importantly to sensitize citizens towards its importance. She coordinated with citizens who were owners of households where she provided desludging services. She worked closely with the officials from Wai Municipal Council and with the field staff who would manage the machinery for desludging, to ensure services reached citizens timely. It filled her with pride when women-only households felt comfortable that she was supervising the desludging process for their homes.

Her family is proud of her for being the ambitious and driven woman that she grew up to be and believe that she enables crucial services for the society. Today, Tejaswini not only overlooks desludging for most households in Wai but has also played an important in ensuring smooth delivery of desludging services by managing bills, reporting and documenting her work with the municipality.

Raised in a family where both parents worked as municipal street sweepers, Mantu knew since his childhood that he would do sanitation work. Knowing the hardships of a low-income life and with no guidance about the importance of education in planning his future, Mantu studied till 10th grade and then sought financial stability by applying for a range of jobs. Besides providing for his younger brother and sister's education, he faced the challenges of supporting his own family, including his 2-year-old daughter.

A turning point came when Mantu learned about a meeting organized by Dhenkanal Municipality, offering a chance to join a male Self-Help Group under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Urban Livelihood Mission (DAY-NULM) and Swacch Bharat Mission convergence. Recognizing the opportunities ahead, he joined the group and became the driving force behind OMM SAI SHG. He conducted regular meetings, went door-to-door, and inspired members to save, eventually enabling them to access bank loans.

Mantu's leadership enabled him to convince the group to submit an application to Dhenkanal Municipality for the operation and maintenance of community toilets. Overcoming social stigmas tied to sanitation work, the group submitted their application and was subsequently awarded the contract.

Despite facing numerous challenges, including financial constraints and irregular payments, Mantu's resolve kept the group united. He learned the intricacies of Dhenkanal Municipality's operations, ensuring the enterprise's continuity through internal savings. They capitalized on their internal savings and planned to start an alternative livelihood enterprise. Their success story continues, as they aim to secure more contracts and expand their community toilet initiative.

Dhenkanal Municipality recognizes Mantu's group for their outstanding performance and plans to award them more contracts, built on the foundation of trust established through sheer hard work and dedication. Through his journey, Mantu not only became an entrepreneur but also gained valuable skills, increased safety awareness, and accessed various schemes to improve his family's life. His transformation is a testament to the transformative power of determination and community-driven initiatives in the sanitation sector.

D. Siva has been engaged in providing crucial sanitation services in Odisha as a sewer worker for over 15 years. Driven by a sense of responsibility towards his family’s needs from a young age, he joined the sanitation workforce, following the same line of work as his father.

In the initial stages of his life as a sanitation worker, he underwent immense exploitation with little to protect him. On several occasions, he recalls having to immerse himself in faecal sludge, relying on nothing more than a towel wrapped around his body. It is only with continued sectoral progress towards ensuring safety and dignity of sanitation workers, that D. Siva’s exposure to faecal matter reduced. He now has complete access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits and mechanized tools to tackle blockages in sewers, which contributes to improved Occupational Health and Safety for him.

He received extensive training which educated him about essential aspects of the job: the associated hazards and safety protocols. The training assured him and instilled confidence in him to safely carry out his work. He and other trainees received identification cards and certificates, officially recognizing them as service delivery professionals.

Observing the improvements in safety measures and witnessing her husband's confidence, his wife became convinced that this was a safe occupation to pursue. He and his fellow coworkers now find adequate safety and stability in their sanitation work, due to the fact that proper rules and protocols are now in place. They express hope that more individuals will be encouraged to join the profession, knowing that their safety is prioritized.

Furthermore, the community in his neighborhood greatly appreciates the tireless efforts of D. Siva and his team in maintaining sanitation standards. He aspires for his children to receive a quality education and secure a promising future.

Watch to learn more about sanitation workers’ safety, dignity and rights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B30mMDyfQuU