TNUSSP conducted workplace safety and rights training for 250 women sanitation workers from Kovilpatti, Tenkasi, and Sengottai Municipalities. The sessions covered the PoSH Act, SC/ST atrocities act, and basic constitutional rights and helped workers differentiate between domestic, sexual, and workplace harassment, fostering greater awareness and confidence in addressing these issues.

Participants were also oriented on grievance redressal mechanisms and reporting processes, ensuring the understanding of how to seek support and take action when needed. The interactive nature of the training encouraged open discussions, with many workers sharing concerns and gaining clarity on their rights and protections in the workplace.

TNUSSP conducted a regional training for 170 Public Health officers from 21 municipalities, including Sanitary Officers, Inspectors, and SBM Supervisors and Animators. The sessions addressed FSTP O&M challenges and strategised the rollout of the Kakkaman campaign under the People’s Movement for Clean Cities (SBM 2.0).

A key focus was on improving FSTP utilisation, with officers highlighting operational and design challenges. A major concern was low resident awareness of regular desludging, FSTP availability, and engaging licensed Desludging Operators (DSOs). Officers also flagged issues of unauthorised disposal in farmlands and the need for stricter compliance.

To tackle these, discussions emphasised awareness-building for residents, DSOs and all city-level stakeholders on safe desludging practices and the importance of routing all waste to FSTPs. Officers received Kakkaman campaign guides and collaterals, and developed action plans to enhance FSTP utilisation and campaign execution in their ULBs.

Kakkaman (Shit-man) is a BCC campaign that uses fun, interactive messaging to promote FSM awareness. Recognised as Tamil Nadu’s liquid waste mascot under SBM 2.0, it engages various stakeholders in the full cycle of sanitation. Following the training, Tenkasi ULB and Srivilliputhur ULB have started the roll-out of the Kakkaman campaign.

IIHS was a part of the “Global South Academic Conclave (GSAC) on WASH and Climate 2025” from 21-23 February 2025, at the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) University, Ahmedabad. The GSAC is organised by the Center for Water and Sanitation (CWAS), CEPT Research and Development Foundation (CRDF), and supported by the Viega Foundation and the Gates Foundation.

Kavita Wankhade – Panellist

Kavita Wankhade, Head – Practice (Governance & Services) and Associate Dean – School of Systems & Infrastructure, IIHS, and Project Director – TNUSSP, was a speaker in the panel discussion on ‘Academic Discourse on WASH, Climate, and Urban Planning’.

The discussion highlighted the evolving landscape of research and practice in WASH and climate and the need for collaborations to create practice-ready professionals. Kavita reflected on her journey through literature, noting that while gaps remain, there is growing evidence of research addressing real-world challenges—such as small and medium enterprises and O&M costs—signalling progress. She reiterated that despite the multidisciplinary nature of the research space, different disciplines—finance, technology, and governance—often operate in silos.

A key takeaway was the need for stronger linkages, with practitioners playing a more active role in research and writing. Institutions like CEPT and IIHS, which integrate practice, research, and teaching, were cited as crucial in fostering this middle path between academia and real-world implementation. She further added that the WASH community has long faced challenges in bridging these gaps, and there is potential for the climate change sector to learn from fields like public health, education, and management, where these connections are more structured.

Abhilaasha N – Verbal Presenter

Abhilaasha N, Specialist – TNUSSP, presented in the technical session on Inclusive and Climate-Resilient WASH for Vulnerable Communities, which featured research on addressing sanitation challenges in Chennai’s urban poor settlements, supported by the HCL foundation. The presentation discussed sanitation access, infrastructure, and service delivery – in the context of climate risks such as flooding, heat stress, and water scarcity.

The study, based on field surveys, stakeholder dialogues, and institutional reviews, highlighted key challenges: lack of household toilets, poor UGSS last-mile connectivity, and governance gaps. Findings underscored the need for data-driven planning, participatory approaches, and targeted interventions to improve WASH services in flood-prone and underserved areas.

By integrating urban poor needs into climate adaptation strategies, this research offers a replicable framework for inclusive urban resilience, positioning Chennai as a model for climate-responsive sanitation planning.

Written by Sakthi Sangeetha Devi, Consultant – Word Lab, IIHS.

Having heard and read a lot about Fecal Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTPs), their treatment methodologies, challenges and expansion plans for over a year, I was excited to finally see a facility in person. Among the 39 FSTPs and 48 Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) currently treating fecal sludge in the state, the plant in Tenkasi was well-known for its meticulous operation and maintenance. When I entered the plant, I knew why. It was an unassuming structure, without a hint of its critical role in the sanitation cycle. Spread over 8,000 square metres, the plant was a part of a larger solid waste management (SWM) site.

It was 10 am on a Friday this month, and the sun was blazing over us, with a half-hearted breeze trying to twirl the heat away. The FSTP was abuzz with six workers getting ready for the day, scattered across various sections of the plant and other treatment units in the vicinity. Soon, they were joined by a couple of de-sludging operators who had just driven in with the first load of the day. Talking animatedly, they donned their personal protective gear to empty the vehicles lined up at the screen chamber. 

Walking across the roof of underground chambers, I wondered aloud about the distinct uses of the chambers below, all of which looked the same above. A technical consultant explained that being a gravity-based system, the subtle changes in the slopes of the chambers must be carefully marked during construction so that the sludge moves naturally to successive chambers for treatment without obstructing the flow.

He further added, “Already existing solid waste management sites are utilised for FSTPs so that fecal sludge can be co-composted without having to take up space for an additional facility. Although, once the legacy waste is cleared, it alters the soil profile, which means, each SWM site has to follow customised construction methods.”

I moved towards the screen chamber, where septage enters the plant. I assumed the trucks would start emptying the sludge into the chamber right after entering, but it was not before testing the quality of the loads. This prevents the disposal of non-fecal effluent in the plant, as it both threatens the safety of the workers as well as causes breakdown of the plant.

The plant operator explained to me that they reject loads if treatment parameters are not met. “If any other waste is emptied here, we have to even turn away treatable septage because the entire plant operation will be affected.”

After watching the de-sludging process, I followed the operator to the sludge drying beds. Walking between the sludge drying beds, I saw the actual process of dewatering itself visible across the entire length of the beds. Beginning with thick sludge mixed with liquid, the successive beds held increasingly dried sludge. The liquid had percolated through underground pipes and was collected for further treatment. Despite treating a highly ostracised waste, not one area in the plant showed signs of what was being processed. When I admired the immaculate premises, the operator informed me, “We regularly clean the units and maintain the plant hygienically. In fact, we even have our lunch inside the plant.”

As I moved to the next the part of the system, the various other treatment units caught my eye. The multi-purpose treatment site promoted collaboration between solid waste and fecal sludge management systems. The dried sludge was co-composted along with the organic waste in the composting centre, whereas the debris was discharged with waste from the resource recovery centre. Even the treated water was reused for gardening within the plant premises.

At a corner of the plant, a mound of dried sludge awaited co-composting after which it would be distributed to farmers. It became evident to me that improvements to sanitation come from various perspectives, especially local knowledge. Discussing methods for disposing of dried sludge, an elderly operator of the plant remarked, “This (dried sludge) doesn’t have the same nutritional value as animal waste. So, it cannot be used separately. But the co-composted waste is well-received here as it improves the soil fertility.” Impressive example for circular usage, isn’t it? 

Reflecting on the visit, the importance of every sanitation stakeholder in maintaining public health became apparent to me. It is easy to forget about waste once it leaves our home—unless we are affected in some way, like the odour from dump yards or blocked drainage in our streets.

With the administration keen on implementing innovative solutions, and skilled resources available for operation and maintenance of treatment facilities, we, as waste generators, need to be more aware of the full cycle of sanitation. Until then, we cannot truly appreciate the significance of treatment plants in our lives. 

Further Reading

• Indian Institute for Human Settlements. (2025). TNUSSP Annual Newsletter. In TNUSSP.
• Sebastian, O. S., & Sundar, S. (2018, May 2). Why does your drain smell so bad? TNUSSP.

Acknowledgements

I thank Sivaraj, Sasikumar and the Tenkasi FSTP workers for their detailed technical inputs.

Special thanks to Sofia Juliet Rajan for the crisp editing. 

Photographs: Anand and Sivaraj

The ninth edition of Urban ARC, the Indian Institute for Human Settlements’ Annual Research Conference happened from 16 to 18 January 2025. This year’s theme is ‘Urban Transitions’.

On the first day, Kavita Wankhade, the Project Director of TNUSSP, was part of a panel titled, ‘Urban Transitions in Practice: Reflections from a Large-Scale Sanitation Programme’.

The discussion centred around this year’s Urban Arc theme ‘Urban Transitions’, in the context of reflections from implementing a large-scale Practice programme like the Tamil Nadu Urban Sanitation Support Programme (TNUSSP), one of the largest public SDG6 (clean water and sanitation) interventions in the world.

Along with Kavita Wankhade, Adriana Allen from the University College London, Edgar Pieterse from the University of Cape Town, Geetika Anand from IIHS, and Colin Marx from the University College London, were a part of the panel as well.

This year’s IIHS Urban ARC had over 1100 people attending the conference online and in person. There were 44 participants for the PhD workshop, 56 papers for Urban ARC, in addition to over 80 paper presenters.

From 8–10 January 2025, the IIHS-TNUSSP team convened for a three-day Writing Workshop in Chennai, conducted by the IIHS Word Lab team. As TNUSSP approaches its closure, the workshop offered a valuable opportunity to learn and prepare to document nine years of impactful work through comprehensive reports and knowledge products (KPs).

During the workshop, the team was oriented on the nuances of writing and documentation. The sessions covered various aspects of effective writing, including writing structures, adhering to ethical standards, and leveraging tools for efficiency.

Participants gained valuable insights into report writing, identifying target audiences, incorporating citations, ensuring plagiarism-free content, addressing challenges, standardising formats across KPs, and streamlining the archiving process. Additionally, the team explored plans for creating a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) to amplify the programme’s reach.

This workshop has laid the foundation for the meticulous documentation efforts required in the coming months, equipping the team with the skills and clarity to deliver high-quality outputs.

Dr Joyeeta Gupta and Dr Hilmer Bosch from Amsterdam University, esteemed members of the Global Commission on the Economics of Water (GCEW), visited Tamil Nadu from 11-13 December 2o24, to learn about the state’s inclusive sanitation initiatives.

The two-day visit, organised by the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), provided an in-depth understanding of the Tamil Nadu Urban Sanitation Support Programme (TNUSSP).

The delegates visited the Fecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP) in Karunguzhi and explored various innovative projects in Tiruchirappalli, including improved on-site sanitation systems, decentralised decanting stations, and welfare and livelihood initiatives for sanitation workers.

During their discussions with the team, Dr. Gupta and Dr. Bosch expressed their appreciation for the impactful work being undertaken. The visit offered valuable insights into Tamil Nadu’s comprehensive efforts to address the full sanitation cycle, with a strong emphasis on equity, sustainability, and inclusion.