IIHS was part of ‘VRUTI 2025 – The Clean Kerala Conclave – Reimagining Kerala’s Waste Water & Sanitation’ organised by the Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala. The event took place from 9-13 April 2025, at Kanakakunnu Palace, Thiruvananthapuram. Focusing on Clean Lives, Circular Economy, and Climate Action, VRUTHI 2025 brought together experts, technologists, solution providers, and communities to create a comprehensive waste management framework, showcase innovative waste management practices, foster climate resilience, and promote sustainable solutions through community engagement and knowledge sharing.

Mahima Vijendra—Senior Consultant, IIHS, and Specialist, TNUSSP—was a speaker on the panel ‘Contextualising FSM Models for Kerala,’ which explored pathways to tailor Fecal Sludge Management (FSM) solutions to Kerala’s unique environmental and institutional context and enable safe reuse strategies within a circular economy framework. Drawing on experiences from states such as Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh, the panel highlighted lessons in policy development, institutional strengthening, community partnerships, and scalable treatment innovations. Mahima shared insights from Tamil Nadu’s pioneering journey in institutionalising FSM, emphasising the state’s efforts to integrate, scale, and sustain FSM through robust policy, legal, and regulatory frameworks.