Desludging operators play a crucial role in collection, transportation, and disposal of fecal sludge from onsite sanitation systems. TNUSSP has worked closely with the desludging operators in the two town panchayats—Periyanaicken-Palayam and Narasimhanaicken-Palayam—to understand their practices, their business models, and their challenges. Several orientation sessions have been held with them to improve their practices.

Efforts are underway to register desludging operators with the town panchayats to assist in regularisation and streamlining of registration process.