In his role as the Executive Officer (EO) of Bijnor Nagar Palika Parishad (BNPP) in Uttar Pradesh, Durgeshwar Tripathi has made great strides in city sanitation management. Holding a postgraduate degree in Sociology, Durgeshwar has propelled capacity-building training, workshops, and international field visits, all geared towards enhancing Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) practices.

In a district heavily influenced by political narratives, BNPP boasts a robust City Sanitation Taskforce (CSTF) representing diverse women leaders. They convene quarterly to guide discussions on critical facets of the sanitation value chain. Durgeshwar's position as EO enables him to stay abreast of the city's sanitation endeavors. Recognizing the pivotal role of sanitation workers, BNPP, with technical support from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), conducts regular training and awareness programs. These initiatives have been particularly impactful, ensuring the adoption of safety gear, self-hygiene, and equitable work rights among sanitation workers, with women workers taking the lead.

Durgeshwar's leadership came to the forefront during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Workers emptying septage tanks were issued special passes to ensure uninterrupted services during the crisis, while hygiene practices such as mask-wearing and handwashing were encouraged. CSE's technical support played a crucial role in preparing Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials for FSM.

Having been recognized as the second-best Ganga town with a population above 100,000 under the Swachh Survekshan 2020, Mr. Tripathi aspires for Bijnor to clinch the subsequent Swachh Survekshan award as the champion. The BNPP, in collaboration with the CSE-supported Malasur campaign, seeks to encourage citizens to empty their septic tanks promptly. The city is also progressing towards achieving the ODF++ status through upcoming co-treatment initiatives.

Xerxes' journey into urban sanitation was not just a career choice but a calling ignited by experiences that painted a vivid picture of the disparities in sanitation services. His story encapsulates a transformative odyssey from observing open drains in his childhood to reshaping the paradigm of inclusive sanitation across cities.

Born in Indore, Xerxes' childhood memories of sewage spilling into the streets sparked his relentless quest to understand and resolve the unaddressed sanitation issues. Despite the societal focus on home comforts and infrastructure, the overlooked fate of waste disposal deeply concerned him. His architectural studies and professional experience further solidified this conviction.

In 2005, while working with the International City Managers Association on the Afghan Municipal Strengthening Program, Xerxes encountered the dire sanitation situation in Kabul. The absence of proper waste management systems and challenges in waste disposal highlighted the gravity of the issue on an international scale. This experience shaped his mission to bring effective change in sanitation practices.

Xerxes' commitment led him to collaborate with the Urban Management Centre (UMC), where his journey of transformation began. He wasn't just reshaping infrastructure - he was reconstructing perspectives. His work in Dhenkanal, Orissa, marked a pivotal moment. He collaborated with sanitation workers and formed self-help groups (SHGs) to uplift and empower them. Notably, one encounter with Ashish Nayak, a qualified civil engineer working as a sanitation worker, highlighted the plight of skilled individuals facing societal bias. Xerxes was relentless in reshaping paradigms, turning overlooked sanitation workers into guardians of better living standards. The journey wasn't just about building toilets but nurturing an ecosystem of respect and dignity.

Through the years, Xerxes' focus evolved from mere infrastructure development to emphasizing operation and maintenance in sanitation. The integration of sanitation workers into self-help groups and schemes like GARIMA marked a significant shift in perspective. His efforts reshaped societal perceptions, aiming not to see these workers as mere laborers but as valued contributors to a safer and more dignified urban landscape.

Being part of the National Feacal Sludge and Septage Management Alliance (NFSM) provided Xerxes a platform for cross-learning and collaboration. It allowed the sharing of best practices and policy changes to redefine the narrative around sanitation workers' roles.

Looking ahead, Xerxes eagerly contributes to the Statewide Framework of Inclusive Sanitation for Odisha and envisions scaling these initiatives nationally. His aspirations resonate with creating citywide inclusive sanitation programs and fostering collaboration among stakeholders for a more equitable urban environment.

Xerxes' story is not just about reshaping sanitation but also about shifting societal perspectives, from stigmatization to empowerment. His journey reflects a commitment to transforming the lives of sanitation workers, redefining urban landscapes, and fostering an inclusive approach to sanitation for all.

Seema Dhamdhere, a distinguished civil servant in Maharashtra, embarked on a remarkable journey that transformed urban sanitation across the state. Her tenure began in 1984, spanning various departments like Public Health, Maternal and Child Health, Education, and Administration, setting the stage for her significant role in the Urban Development Department. Her arrival in the Urban Development Department marked a turning point. Amidst the complex tapestry of projects, she found herself amidst the inception of monumental missions - Swachh Bharat and the Smart City Mission. It was a time when open defecation and sanitation woes plagued the nation, especially its women. Seema's transition from health and education to urban development provided a unique perspective, especially concerning women's health and dignity. Her commitment to addressing the struggles faced by women, particularly in matters of sanitation, became her driving force.

Collaborating with the government, Seema spearheaded citizen-centric programs, driving a mission that transcended government labels. The mission was embraced by citizens across 400-plus cities, uniting diverse demographics towards a singular goal: eliminating open defecation.

She reminisced about her initial days, attending conferences where the core theme resonated deeply: "Apne Toilets, Apne Swasthya." The transition from educating women about reproductive health to combating the indignity of open defecation was a significant leap. The missions brought forth a wave of change. They struck a chord, not just with the government but with the public - a collective movement to reclaim dignity, especially for women. The idea that a woman's self-worth should not be compromised by the lack of basic facilities propelled Seema and her team forward.

Her vision extended beyond mere infrastructure. It was about liberating women from the shackles of societal norms that restricted their movement and dignity. She saw sanitation as a cornerstone for gender equity. The absence of proper sanitation, she argued, not only affected physical health but also shattered a woman's dignity and safety. Her approach was about ensuring women's safety, providing facilities for personal hygiene, and acknowledging their fundamental right to access these amenities. The journey toward gender equity in urban sanitation became her passion.

The journey wasn't easy; it demanded collaboration with numerous stakeholders, NGOs, UNDP, World Bank, and more. Seema acknowledged that achieving success in sanitation required a collective effort. She emphasized that involving citizens and aligning stakeholders on the same platform facilitated substantial progress in this realm. Having been among the few women in urban development, Seema envisioned a more inclusive future. She believed that greater representation of women in this domain would yield profound results, aligning closely with women's needs and their pivotal role in societal hygiene. Throughout her career, Seema applied a gendered lens to her work, advocating for the underprivileged and championing initiatives that elevated women's dignity. Her dedication was evident in initiatives providing sanitary facilities on highways, state transport buses, and slums, easing the challenges faced by women in accessing basic amenities.

Reflecting on her trajectory, Seema encourages future leaders to amplify efforts in this regard. Her message to future leaders echoed: "The cornerstone of progress lies in recognizing the fundamental right of women to access dignified sanitation. It's not just about building toilets; it's about upholding dignity and safety for every woman in our society."

Seema's story wasn't merely about her tenure or achievements; it was a testament to a woman's determination to rewrite the narrative, one toilet at a time. Her journey illuminated a path where women's dignity and rights were not negotiable and where urban development equated to gender equity.

Meghna Malhotra is Deputy Director at Urban Management Centre (UMC). She has extensive experience in urban governance and management across health, water, and sanitation. She holds a master's degree in environmental planning and a bachelor's degree in architecture.

The World Health Organisation posed a question in 2006 that has stayed with Meghna ever since: “Why do we keep treating people for illnesses and send them back to the conditions that created the illness in the first place.” Having worked at the intersection of health and WASH, she strongly feels that until we ensure sanitation for all, we cannot achieve health for all.

On the topic of alternative livelihoods, during a meeting with sanitation workers, one of them said, “Kya aap humsein yeh kaam bhi cheen loge”? (Will you take away even this work from us?). This question jolted Meghna into remembering how sanitation workers are alienated from mainstream sectors, making the idea of losing their jobs scary. Each time she heard of an accident or workers without PPEs, it was a distressing motivator of the immense work ahead towards ensuring sanitation worker safety.

Meghna has led UMC’s partnership with the Government of Odisha to implement the Garima Scheme --- a comprehensive scheme targetting safety and dignity for sanitation work --- alongside supporting the Deendayal Antyoday Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM).

Meghna believes that for inclusive sanitation services, all sections of the city must be covered, including the urban poor, women, trans persons, and other under-served communities. Involving diverse citizen voices in design and maintenance encourages ownership and the payment of taxes/fees required to maintain these services.

At UMC, Meghna focuses on granularly approaching the process of achieving ODF status in informal settlements in cities, which ultimately helps shape perspectives across the country. UMC’s efforts have played a key role in impacting policy design over the last two decades. Before the national launch of SBM-Urban, they supported the Gujarat government in preparing an ODF policy for the state.

Through her determination to focus on change at the micro-scale, Meghna has been able to see a trickle-up effect where states are inspired by the work she is engaged in, causing a macro-level difference. Meghna’s commitment to inclusivity is inspiring in many ways.

Recounting his foray into the social sector, Niladri describes with fondness, an adventure trip he took with his friends, where he met a journalist from a daily newspaper who was both impressed and intrigued upon hearing that he was pursuing Environmental science and ecology. He suggested that Niladri look for opportunities in the social sector; a world which was completely alien to him at the time. Stirred by the conversation, he started applying for roles after completing his postgraduate degree and landed up in a grassroots organization in a remote place in West Bengal called Medinipur where he first learnt how to work together with communities.

When his journey with WSH began he encountered that the groundwater in West Bengal (among other states) was highly contaminated with arsenic – resulting in death and disease particularly in rural areas which lacked alternative sources of water. He worked with the Bengal Engineering and Science University to install an activated alumina-based filter and involved the community in its management thus bringing down the arsenic to permissible levels. This contributed significantly to bringing down the disease burden. “WSH is a big determinant of public health”, Niladri explains, “part of why it’s close to my heart.”

Of the firm belief that Inclusive Sanitation must also extend to remote and challenging terrains, Niladri had one such experience while working on an island in the Sunderbans, where setting up a sanitation supply chain was incredibly tough. When him and his team started off, the island had 0 toilets and over the course of just 1.5 years, working together with the community to solve their challenges, they were able to bring a toilet to every household – so that people would not have to resort to open defecation and instead be able to access safe and dignified sanitation. To be meaningful, sanitation services must be inclusive and reach the last mile.

Niladri recounts that earlier the spotlight used to mostly be on the challenges of rural sanitation. However, recently people started acknowledging the complexity of Urban Sanitation. The NFSSM Alliance has played a pivotal role in bringing urban sanitation, its urgency and complexity, to the centerstage. The Alliance has also provided a space for organizations to share their strengths with each other. Niladri regards the cross learning between organizations over the past year as a beneficial learning experience.

Upon a reflection of his long journey in the sanitation sector Niladri has observed it go through multiple changes. While earlier, in the sector, interventions used to be standalone or siloed, people have now started to proactively move towards scale. The role of the non-profit sector too has evolved. Non-profits are now working more symbiotically with the government in the capacity of technical support agencies – nudging and supporting the government. He says, “I’m so glad to see the insurge of fresh professional talent that the sector has witnessed. So many qualified young people are choosing to be in the sector purely out of passion, bringing a fresh and unbiased perspective to the work.”

Niladri is Senior Lead, Practice at Indian Institute of Human Settlements. He has close to two decades of experience as a development professional in the domain of water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) and public health. He has worked with organizations like CARE, Water For People, PFI, Medic Synergy, IPE Global and has been an instrumental part of large scale WASH and public health program supported by bilateral agencies like USAID and DFID. He earned a Master of Population Studies from the International Institute for Population Studies, Mumbai, and a Masters in Ecology & Environment from Sikkim Manipal University.

“After graduating from architecture and working in the field, I realized that I was not happy with just designing for a few individuals, properties, houses, some institutions, etc. I wanted to understand how cities work, what are the methods and systems in which they grow. That is why I studied urban planning.”

Manvita, driven by curiosity, always wondered why urban environments often failed to prioritize those in greatest need of their services. Recognizing that the efficacy of urban planning hinged on placing people at the core, she made this realization the cornerstone of her perspective. It was Manivta’s upbringing in Russia that instilled in her a strong sense of inclusivity. She firmly believes that good governance is essential for inclusivity. All citizens must get represented and get what they deserve and need from different levels of government. When it comes to sanitation, unfortunately, cities are not inclusive because informal settlements and marginalized communities get left out. Not by design, not by anybody's apathy, but by the overall system's apathy. Manvita believes that inclusive sanitation requires inclusion of geographically challenging areas that need to be catered to, vulnerable people who need to be prioritized, trans people who are interspersed into certain settlements, and all those at the periphery of the city’s existence.

Her childhood impressions motivated Manvite to prioritize communities in her work. She entered Urban Planning purely from an urban poverty perspective and worked at the intersection of sanitation and poverty much more. Manvita acknowledges the slow progress in the sanitation sector, emphasizing the need for more well-designed systems. Despite promising strides, there is ample room for further improvement. She advocates for prioritizing the lives of sanitation workers, ensuring proper equipment, innovative solutions for occupational safety, and making their well-being a top priority for cities.

At Urban Management Centre, Manvita and her team work towards strengthening municipal systems; embedded into all three levels of government and the community. Their focus on municipal systems stems from the fact that the local government is the closest to citizens. Unless one’s city reaches out to them, one will not be able to reach out to it to address their problems. This has driven their advocacy for strengthening and providing more autonomy for local governments. Autonomy, financial and otherwise, is important for cities. Manvita’s vision is to enable robust urban governance particularly in sanitation, to see Indian cities sanitised- right from cleanliness to liquid waste management. Her core belief is that for this to happen we not only require emphasis on technology but also collaboration with people who remain behind the scenes i.e. sanitation workers. Manvita emphasis upon the transformative potential that lies in reshaping the capacity-building and training ecosystem for inclusive sanitation and urban planning. The goal is to empower individuals interested in city planning through university programs and professional courses, providing them with the tools to effectively organize and manage cities in collaboration with the government.

Manvita is the Director and Founder of Urban Management Centre, and has been deeply involved in shaping more inclusive urban systems by working with local governments. She harbours a deep passion for planning cities that leave no one at the periphery, regardless of geographical and socio-economic vulnerability. Having formally studied architecture and urban planning, she has vast experience in training young professionals as well as city officials in designing cities that work for everyone.

Depinder Kapur is a renowned Development and WASH expert, currently serving as the Director of Water Program at Centre for Science and Environment. With a diverse background, he has held significant positions at WaterAid, NIUA, CARE, Oxfam, and WSSCC, among others. He has worked to develop national strategies and frameworks for assessing capacity development and resilient urban sanitation response effectiveness.

Before his foray in WSH, he had worked in various fields including watershed development, forestry, and agriculture, among others. Having initially focused on rural issues, he gravitated towards the intriguing nature of urban challenges, which to him remained relatively unexplored and underserved. It presented an additional challenge to him, which he was eager to tackle; thereby making Urban Water and Sanitation all the more enticing to him.

From his initial days of exploring WSH, he was surprised to witness the state of small towns of UP, where drain water actually flew into septic tanks. Similarly, in the floodplains of Bihar, he encountered houses with septic tanks located in the center of the house owing to lack of proper drainage systems outside. These seemingly basic challenges lacked documentation or public discussion. These initial experiences played an important role in instilling in him an appreciation of the importance of adapting solutions to local contexts.

Reflecting upon his journey in sanitation, Depinder recounts that while initially, the sector’s focus was limited to community and public toilets, over time, there was a rise in momentum to address the challenges of urban sanitation. The period between 2015 and 2020, just before the onset of the COVID pandemic, was one of exhilaration in the sector. During this time, there was a flurry of activities taking place in the sector, including implementation efforts, research endeavors, capacity building initiatives, and the establishment of the National Faecal Sludge and Septage Management Alliance. It marked an exciting moment in the sector. The NFSSM Alliance has played a role in bringing the agenda of Faecal Sludge and Septage Management to the national level. Depinder strongly believes that being a part of the NFSSM Alliance has exposed him to different approaches and unique experiences across a range of issues. He regards it vital to sustain the work that has been done for FSSM, to scale it up and cull out the right learnings towards the goal of inclusive sanitation.

As part of his work at the Centre for Science and Environment, he strives to center the inclusion of the poorest and most vulnerable settlements, being of the firm belief that Urban Planning, which is a neglected area, is not just about spatial planning but about addressing gaps and inequities, bringing legislative entitlements to people residing in cities to all services including water and sanitation. The very premise of city sanitation planning is to address those parts of cities which are denied services.

Hailing from the city of Allahabad, known for its competitive pursuit of the civil services, PK too had his sights set on a career in the government. He diligently worked for and appeared for the Provincial State Services exam and opted to work in Municipal Administration Services. His public service journey has taken him all over Uttar Pradesh, from Lalitpur, Kanpur, Jhansi to Varanasi and Lucknow, encountering multiple challenges related to urban services. He currently serves as Additional Director, Training & Capacity Building and Additional Mission Director, AMRUT for the Government of Uttar Pradesh.

PK Srivastava recounts that while urban services are riddled with difficulty, he always finds joy in embracing these challenges head-on. He describes it as ‘a double-edged sword’, where success brings in immense recognition, but failure can often invite scrutiny and public accountability. PK finds himself driven by the compelling desire to seek innovative approaches to solve complex problems. Recognizing the financial constraints faced by Urban Local Bodies, PK became deeply passionate about finding low-tech, cost-effective solutions in sanitation; making him a vocal proponent of Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM).

He strongly promotes Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM) as the most practical solution for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to adopt. FSSM, which treats faecal slude generated from on-site sanitation systems such as septic tanks, requires minimal land acquisition, avoiding the cumbersome and time-consuming process; as opposed to setting up sewer networks. Furthermore, it eliminates the inconvenience of excavating roads, which often results in prolonged disruptions. Connecting households to sewage pipelines poses a significant challenge, as residents are often unwilling to bear the associated costs. Recognizing that people are accustomed to using septic tanks, he worked in collaboration with the Centre for Science and Environment to develop models and bye-laws for FSSM in UP. These guidelines mandate regular desludging of septic tanks every three years and incentivize households that adhered to this practice by reducing the charges or rates for their next desludging. The goal was to regulate desludging and promote responsible sanitation practices.

Inspired by his visit to Odisha, where he witnessed the exemplary efforts of SHGs led by Transgender communities, he believed that communities could play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of FSSM initiatives. Their involvement would lead to a sense of ownership while fostering sustainable livelihoods. PK Srivastava emphasized the potential of training and engaging communities in the operation and maintenance of Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTPs).

In his forward-thinking perspective, he recognized that even with low-tech solutions, there were remarkable possibilities for wastewater reuse. Through the process of anaerobic oxidation, the liquid part of wastewater could be treated and repurposed for gardening and other similar activities. Meanwhile, the solid part could be transformed into valuable resources such as nutrient-rich manure and biogas.

He envisions a future where FSTPs would play a central role. These plants emerged as the most promising, low-tech, and cost-effective solution for managing faecal sludge. Importantly, the responsibility for the establishment, operation, and maintenance of these plants would lie with the Urban Local Bodies, ensuring their full ownership and commitment. To ensure the success and sustainability of FSTPs, PK Srivastava emphasized the active engagement of communities. By involving the community in decision-making processes and fostering their participation, the FSTPs would truly become a collective endeavor, serving the needs of the people and the environment.

Serving as the Sanitation and Flood Inspector for Nagar Palika Parishad, Chunar, Uttar Pradesh, Lalmani has emerged as a pivotal figure in promoting citizen awareness in the Urban Local Body. Prior to entering public service, Lalmani had a very diverse educational background including a BSc, MA, and B. Ed. He initially pursued a career in education. It was his deep passion for working with children that drove him to seek a broader avenue to make a positive impact; his instincts ultimately guided him to the world of public service. He soon found himself working amidst the public, interacting with people from all walks of life. Working directly with communities to help solve their issues gave him a tremendous sense of self-satisfaction.

In 2019, Lalmani was posted in Chunar Nagar Palika. Upon arriving in Chunar, he felt taken aback by the state of the sewer lines. He learned that the city's sewer system directly disposed of waste, which led to alarming pollution in the nearby Ganga River. Determined to address this pressing issue, Lalmani collaborated with the Center for Science and Environment (CSE) team to set up a Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) in Chunar. Before the FSTP was established, Chunar's residents did not recognize its functions and benefits, social stigmas made them skeptical, and they protested the establishment of the FSTP. Recognizing the need to bring the community together on this issue, Lalmani and his team organized a communal event, where everyone gathered to enjoy the local delicacy Baati-Chokha, to foster open dialogue and discussion and a sense of unity.

With a goal to instill citizen awareness, Lalmani and his team devised a plan. They instructed the drivers and operators involved in desludging septic tanks to educate every tenth household they serviced about the necessity of regular desludging.

Lalmani's dedication to cleanliness and preventing pollution extended beyond Chunar, as he was deeply concerned about keeping Ganga pollution-free and ensuring no untreated septage was flowing into river water. Lalmani and his team worked diligently to ensure scheduled desludging was implemented according to the proper procedure. Their aim was to make Chunar 100% Swachh, leaving no stone unturned in their mission for a clean and healthy environment.

Lalmani Yadav's dedication to his community and his unwavering commitment to citizen awareness and cleanliness made him a respected figure in Chunar. His journey exemplified the positive impact an individual can have when they are driven by a sense of purpose and work tirelessly towards a common goal.

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

“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.