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.

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.

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.

In the heart of Chhattisgarh beats the story of Dr. Ayyaj Tamboli, an IAS officer with a stethoscope, weaving transformative change across tribal lands. His journey from medicine to administration reveals a tapestry of initiatives spanning healthcare, sanitation, waste management, and environmental conservation. But behind each policy, each intervention, lies his thoughtfulness to seek solutions and put into motion actions that can solve for systemic challenges that communities have faced for years.

A young doctor turned IAS officer, Ayyaj's motivation stemmed from both personal inspiration and a profound desire to serve beyond the confines of a clinic. Motivated by a senior who ventured into civil services, Dr. Ayyaj treads a path that traverses the regions of Bastar and Bijapur, both of which are areas of Naxal dominance. His journey is driven by the resolve to cater not just to a small section of society, but to the larger community at large. Dr. Ayyaj believes in the ethos of 'Kung Fu Panda' - believing in destiny and finding peace in impactful actions.

Dr. Ayyaj Tamboli's innovative approach lies in his fusion of medical expertise with administrative prowess. His pioneering work integrates healthcare and urban development, creating a unique bridge between the two domains. From mobile medical units reaching slum dwellers to the introduction of discounted generic medicines, his initiatives merge healthcare accessibility with urban planning. Additionally, Dr. Tamboli has also extended his focus and work towards environmental preservation, knowing its impact on public health. Within this stream of work, he delved into urban lake policies, focusing on revitalizing water bodies, and steering the state towards being 'Water Plus' which required towns to treat its wastewater successfully. He also pioneered initiatives like bioswales, urban lake policies, and water body regeneration. Ayyaj understood that progress was not just about implementing policies but also fostering community engagement and sustainability.

In the realm of urban sanitation, his focus on lake rejuvenation in Raipur stood out as a pivotal and transformative initiative. His strategy was multifaceted, commencing with the formulation of an Urban Lake Policy. This policy aimed to establish technical guidelines for managing and restoring urban lakes, fostering an interconnected network of water bodies within cities. Owing to this, over 800 acres of new lakes emerged - a tangible achievement in reclaiming valuable water resources. He also orchestrated strategic measures to revive existing water bodies. Implementation of stop dams along urban streams regulated flow and reduced oxygen biological demand. He also spearheaded extensive plantation along these waterways, combating pollution and enhancing ecological equilibrium.

The impact cascaded beyond visual improvements. Groundwater recharge, a critical concern in urban areas facing water stress, experienced a significant boost in Raipur due to these rejuvenation efforts. Techniques such as pond deepening and diversion of pollutants fortified water security, paving the way for sustainable urban water management. Tamboli's approach was steeped in an understanding of the cultural essence of lakes in Chhattisgarh showing the need for local leaders who can take into account local contexts before applying solutions. These water bodies weren't just scenic; they were integral to local life - serving as bathing spots, sources of cattle drinking water, and even supplying potable water. This cultural link fortified the urgency of their restoration. This holistic vision reshaped urban sanitation by integrating cultural significance, environmental preservation, and practical sustainability. Another issue under sanitation was that of open defecation which he tackled through a holistic approach of implementation of individual household latrines and community toilets, coupled with ensuring adequate water availability, recognizing that infrastructure without essential resources like water wouldn't yield desired results.

Another standout initiative spearheaded by Dr. Tamboli is the emphasis on cow dung manure, converting it into compost and making it economically viable for farmers, aligning with the idea of making villages and Nagar Panchayats 'gobar-dhan' enabled. This strategy was driven by the principle of circular economy and ensuring communities are utilizing the waste they generate. He, thus, turned cow dung into a revenue source, making streets dung-free and promoting organic composting. His approach to waste management was innovative, introducing a self-help group-based model for collection, segregation, composting, and selling of non-compostable waste. Cities like Ambikapur became role models in this decentralized waste management, fostering community involvement and employment generation.

Overall, Ayyaj Tamboli's journey in urban sanitation and development reflected a commitment to creating sustainable change, integrating healthcare, waste management, and environmental conservation for the betterment of communities in Chhattisgarh. Most of the solutions he spearheaded can be implemented across geographies if his peers were inspired by his efforts. His story is more than a recollection of achievements - it's a beacon of possibility within public service, a journey intertwined with the lives he touches, the problems he embraces, and the solutions he dares to create.