WASH POST

1
Municipal Administration and Urban Development department (MA&UD), Government of Telangana State (GoTS) in partnership with the Administrative Staff College
of India (ASCI) has established the WASH Innovation Hub (WIH), a game-changing initiative to promote innovations in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene sectors (WASH)
for India. The WIH is an ecosystem to continuously identify and nurture innovative WASH solutions and build the capacities of municipalities and other stakeholders
to implement and sustain them.
WIH is pleased to present the seventeenth edition of WASH POST, a monthly newsletter that will keep you updated on activities and upcoming events of the WIH &
developments in the WASH sector. This edition, brings you inspiring stories from innovators, opportunities for collaborating with ecosystem partners, internships,
and employment opportunities in the sector. It also aims to engage with stalwarts of WASH, government officials, corporates, funders, and mentors to achieve health
and environment outcomes.

Sanitation is more important than political Editor Speaks

independence
Mahatma Gandhi considered sanitation a priority for India more than a century ago. Gandhi strongly and
repeatedly condemned the practice of hiring people from the lowest rungs of society to manually clean out
primitive dry latrines. Gandhi’s idea that ‘everyone is his own scavenger’ is entrenched in the national
campaign ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ - Cleanliness is Service - which draws attention to making sanitation a shared
responsibility. Although outlawed, manual scavenging - the act of manually cleaning, disposing of, or handling
human excreta from sewers, septic tanks, and latrines - is still prevalent in many parts of the country.

Prof. V. Srinivas Chary,

Director, ASCI & CEO, WIH
Every life counts: Towards incident-free sanitation operations I am pleased to present this special
edition of WASH POST dedicated to
In recent years, the national government has undertaken Safaimitra Suraksha (Sanitation
significant measures to address the pressing issue of Workers' Safety and Well-being).
fatalities occurring during sanitation work, with a primary
focus on the advancement of mechanized sanitation As we commemorate Mahatma
services. Initiatives such as the Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge Gandhi's birth anniversary, it is fitting to
and the National Action Plan for Mechanised Sanitation reflect on the profound significance he
attached to sanitation and cleanliness.
Ecosystem (NAMASTE) have been pivotal in advocating
Gandhi's vision of sanitation as a
mechanized cleaning practices. These programs are collective responsibility is aptly captured
designed to drive enhancements across a spectrum of areas, in the national campaign, "Swachhata
including institutional frameworks, human resources, Hi Seva," spearheaded by the Swachh
infrastructure, and equipment standards. Bharat Mission. We are all stakeholders
At present, there is a resolute endeavor to transition towards in creating a Garbage-Free India and
mechanized cleaning methods for all sewer lines and septic promoting inclusive sanitation
practices. At ASCI, we are unwavering in
tanks. This move is poised to significantly bolster worker
Screenshot: www.safaimitraaid.org our commitment to advancing this
safety and operational efficiency. vision.
A major impediment to obtaining a comprehensive understanding of accidents during sanitation operations has been the absence of systematic, reliable, and
In recent years, the national
prompt data, coupled with a lack of detailed incident analyses. Research carried out by the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) has brought to light a
government has taken significant
notable disparity between official municipal statistics and the actual count of fatalities among sanitation workers due to hazardous cleaning practices. In a bid to strides in addressing the safety
enhance transparency and raise awareness, we have introduced a dedicated website, www.safaimitraaid.org. This platform is designed to provide the public and concerns surrounding sanitation work,
stakeholders with access to incident data and analysis, furthering our mission to prevent sanitation worker fatalities and promote safer sanitation practices. strongly emphasising the
mechanisation of sanitation services.
Despite these commendable efforts,

2022 2 out of 3 the unsafe practice of cleaning sewer

lines and septic tanks remains
troubling.
Recorded the maximum number of Deaths occur on private
deaths in the last decade properties A comprehensive study conducted by
ASCI has highlighted a stark contrast
between the reported figures and the

1 in 2 50% actual number of sanitation worker

fatalities resulting from unsafe cleaning
Deaths recorded are caused by of the sanitation workers who died practices. In our quest to eradicate
inhalation of toxic gases in septic are within the age range of 25-34 these tragic incidents, our team has
tanks. meticulously examined reported cases
across various regions in the country,
Source: www.safaimitraaid.org coupled with thorough root cause
analyses. To promote transparency
Rooting for safe and scientific sanitation operations and accessibility, we have launched a
new website, safaimitraaid.org,
designed to make incident data
To secure sanitation operations free from hazards, it is imperative to bring about alterations in the policy framework. Here are available.
some of the suggested recommendations:
We must broaden our perspective
beyond mere "Suraksha" (safety) for
Institutionalising mechanisms to ensure zero fatalities Mechanization of sanitation services and delivery the safaimitras and consider their
overall well-being. We must envision
Importance of Responsible Sanitation Authority should be Review of Indian Standards for mechanized cleaning equipment/vehicles
systems that safeguard their dignity,
amplified in Swachh Survekshan Regular training of government and private stakeholders through specified state and ensure a stable income, provide social
Integration of septic tank design (as per IS 2470) in the Regional training institutes security, and offer educational
opportunities for their children.
building bylaws and adherence to specifications Involvement of ULB for improved implementation of financing to sanitation
Emphasize and ensure scheduled desludging of septic tanks entrepreneurs It is heartening to observe a growing
of 2-3 years to avoid thickening of sludge and related Strengthening O&M for effective utilization of machines consciousness and commitment to
addressing the safety and well-being of
accidents while cleaning sanitation workers from various
Regulating all the Private Sanitation Service Organisations quarters. However, these discussions
Integration of informal sector and welfare scheme
must endure, serving as catalysts for
(PSSO): Empanelment of all agencies providing services in
Launch of NAMASTE and learnings from state-level schemes such as Garima research, innovation, and
organized and unorganized areas transformative change within the
and Mukta for the welfare and livelihood of SafaiMitras
Use of technology such as GPS-tagged septic tanks and sanitation sector. Such dialogues
Encourage CSR funding for various services empower Urban Local Bodies and
sewer holes, GPS enabled vehicles has led to better
Integrate informal workers into social schemes municipal administrations to embark
monitoring on a journey towards inclusive
Professionalize workers for job roles through training and different pedagogy sanitation proactively.
Unorganized service providers to be regulated as a majority
Provision of resting places for the sanitary workers
of deaths occur in their area of operations We look forward to hearing your
Focus on women's entrepreneurship
valuable feedback on this edition.

September 2023 Administrative Staff College of India

 WASH POST
NSKFDC: Turning sanitation
workers into entrepreneurs
The National Safai Karmacharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC)
strives to eliminate the inhuman practice of manual scavenging and works
towards the socio-economic upliftment of Safai Karmacharis and their
dependants. Through the NSKFDC schemes, it provides alternative means of
livelihood to the sanitation workers enabling them to live with dignity, honour
and pride, and integrating them with society.
NSKFDC is a wholly owned Govt. of India undertaking
under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment as an
Apex Corporation for the all-round socio-economic
upliftment of the Safai Karamcharis, Scavengers, and their
dependents throughout India, through various loan and
non-loan-based schemes.
The Safai Karamcharis (including waste pickers), Manual Scavengers and their
dependants are eligible for availing benefits or various loan schemes of NSKFDC.
The schemes are implemented through State Channelizing Agencies (SCAs),
Regional Rural Banks and Nationalised Banks viz. Indian Overseas Bank. The
workers are also given skill development training programmes through govt
sector training institutes and sector skill councils.
Financial details:
Subsidy on vehicle: 35% to 37% on the vehicle cost
Rate of Interest: 9% (Govt. contribution 4% and beneficiary contribution 5%)
Loan repayment period: Up to10 years
Steering mechanized cleaning service:
Manemma’s entrepreneurial journey
Manemma, a resident of Kazipet in Warangal was a daily wage worker. She
belongs to the family of Safai Karamcharis and is a member of a self-help
group. Manemma had a strong desire to contribute to society and protect the
environment. Driven by the urge to contribute to sanitation, Manemma
became one of the very few women entrepreneurs in India to run a septic tank
cleaning service. Entering the sanitation sector as a woman entrepreneur was
difficult owing to the stigma attached to it. However, Manemma was
determined to break this stigma. When she learned about the loan benefits
from NSKFDC she wanted to buy the desludging truck and become an
entrepreneur.
With guidance and support from the Greater Warangal Municipality
Corporation (GWMC) and the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), she
purchased a desludging truck through the subsidy received from NSKFDC. After
becoming a licensed operator, Manemma was trained in safe desludging
operations and the usage of personal protective equipment. Along with her
support team, she has cleaned more than 50 septic tanks with all the safety
measures in place and decanted the waste at FSTPs.
Manemma says she is proud of her profession because she can give her
children a good education and a good life. She is very happy to be an integral
part of her town’s sanitation services and urges women to come forward and
explore the opportunities available in sanitation.
September 2023
2
Navi Mumbai’s Safaimitra Suraksha
initiatives are a model for ULBs
Navi Mumbai has set a benchmark in sanitation with its
1st position in Swachh Survekshan 2022 as the Cleanest
City in Maharashtra and 3rd in India. It's also the only city
in Maharashtra to achieve a 5-Star GFC certification and
the Water+ Certification. With a well-connected sewer
network covering 99% of the city, Navi Mumbai
Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has actively pursued the
goal of zero-incident sanitation cleaning operations. Sanitation Response Unit
A multi-pronged approach is in place to make sanitation
work safe and dignified. A strict ban exists on manual entry
into the sewerage systems, except in rare, unavoidable
circumstances. Even then, the responsibility is delegated to
a specialized Emergency Sanitation Response Unit (ESRU),
headed by a Responsible Sanitation Authority (RSA). The
ESRU consists of trained and medically tested Sewer Entry
Professionals (SEPs) who are equipped with full-body suits,
harnesses, gas masks, and oxygen supplies. These
measures significantly minimize risks, aiming for zero
Mechanised cleaning incidents.
NMMC also adheres strictly to the "Prohibition of
Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation
Act, 2013" and is transitioning from manholes to machine
holes. State-of-the-art machines such as Combination
Hydrovac Equipment, Grabbers for de-silting, and Power
Rodding Apparatus are procured to support this transition.
The machines align with Central Public Health &
Environmental Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO) norms,
emphasizing the mechanization of sanitation work.
Safaimitras, the sanitation workers, are an integral
part of this success story. Monthly awards, felicitation
on national holidays, regular health check-ups, and
access to medical services affirm their value and
dignity. They also benefit from central and state
schemes aimed at enhancing their livelihood and self-
employment opportunities, including loans from
NSKFDC and scholarships for their children.
NMMC has set up a 24X7 helpline number (14420) to
report any sanitation-related issues. It has conducted
several awareness campaigns to break down societal
stigmas associated with sanitation work. Training
programs are also provided for private partners and
machinery suppliers, ensuring a comprehensive
approach to sanitation that includes every
Training and capacity building
stakeholder in the community.
By marrying technology with human-centric policies, NMMC is redefining urban sanitation.
Through its focus on safety, mechanization, and dignity for its sanitation workforce, Navi
Mumbai is not just a model city in Maharashtra but a beacon for sanitation operations
nationwide.
Awareness through Swachhta Mascot
Administrative Staff College of India
 WASH POST
3

Innovators Talk
Nimble Vision: The Revolution of Smart Jalodbust: Restoring dignity through technology
Manhole Monitoring Manual scavenging, a degrading and life-threatening process of emptying septic tanks and pits, is practised
in India, especially in locations that are remote or have narrow access. The vacuum trucks cannot reach
these locations for emptying the septic tanks and sewer manholes. Since the existing equipment used for
emptying septic tanks and sewer manholes are bulky and expensive, the sanitation worker has no
alternative but to handle the sanitary sludge with buckets, shovels, or baskets.

Jalodbust™ is a portable, battery-operated, safe, and easy-to-operate sludge handling system. It works on
rechargeable batteries, making it environmentally friendly and inexpensive to operate. It also has a
provision for medium water pressure jetting for declogging. Due to its small size, Jalodbust™ can even
attend to narrow lanes and remote locations to remove liquid waste and sludge without any physical
intervention from the sanitation worker, hence eliminating manual scavenging. It agitates the settled
Team Nimble Vision, a Bangalore-based deep tech startup, is at the forefront
sludge, liquefies it, and then brings it to the transportation system without any human intervention, thus
of creating a confluence of technology and sustainability. Their IoT platform is
saving the worker from contact with sanitary sludge, risking life, and the indignity of hard labour.
not just a technological marvel but also a solution to pressing sustainability
issues. With their flagship product, Ni-The Smart Manhole Monitor, they aim to It is useful across all
revolutionize water and sewage management, reducing environmental impact geographies including areas
and improving human safety. Traditional manhole monitoring is inefficient, that do not have a fully
hazardous, and costly. Manual cleaning and inspection pose significant risks to functional sewer sanitation
human and animal lives. The lack of real-time data exacerbates issues related system. The innovation has
to overflows, gas accumulation, and water quality, leading to road damage, won the ASME I-Show India,
airborne diseases, and river pollution. Ni-The Smart Manhole Monitor employs Bio-Smart 2020 and ISC-FICCI
IoT, AI, and computer vision technologies to deliver real-time, geolocation- 2020 Awards.
based analytics on sewage water levels, quality indicators (COD, BOD, Nitrate,
and Ammonia), and rate of flow. It provides predictive warnings for possible
overflows, triggers for maintenance needs, and smart suggestions to improve Solinas Integrity: Making robots do the job
infrastructure. The mobile app feature offers live manhole water levels and
day-wise variations, contributing to transparency and accountability. This Despite technological advancement, manual
retrofit solution also reduces Operational and Maintenance (O&M) costs by up scavenging is still rampant killing over 1000
to 50% and increases the lifespan of manholes, making it a win-win situation human beings every year even after being
for municipalities and citizens alike. The implications are far-reaching. On the made illegal according to the Prohibition of
Employment as Manual Scavengers and their
economic front, the solution offers significant cost savings and better asset
Rehabilitation Act, 2013. As per market
management. Socially, it helps reduce human and animal casualties, lower research, one of the major problems in these
airborne diseases, and curtail river pollution. Clean roads and better working sectors is the lack of automation and
conditions for inspectors become an added advantage. Nimble Vision is further organization.
advancing its capabilities through 5G, machine learning, and edge computing
technologies. Future versions will feature even more refined water and sewage Solinas Integrity is an IIT Madras incubated
level-based automations, real-time quality metrics, and insights for smart city startup working in the water and sanitation
industry and aims to solve both aspects of the
command centers and maintenance teams.
problem through their indigenous robot
technology - Endobot and HomoSEP.
The HomoSEP robot is designed to homogenize
Endobot inspects pipelines to reduce water septic tank hard sludge and suck out the slurry
losses and contamination. Endobot leverages using a vacuum pump. The HomoSEP robot will aid
visual techniques and image processing to sanitation workers in cleaning the hard sludge
detect defects inside the pipeline and do without entering the potentially dangerous
condition assessments. It is a remotely- atmosphere of a septic tank. HomoSEP is a
operated and tethered crawler robot that compact robot made up of five main modules. The
carries multiple sensors into the pipelines to bottom module can homogenize hard sludge with
perform the endoscopy to detect and locate water to create a pumpable slurry, and the feeding
various kinds of defects. The data from the machine module can push and pull the bottom
pipeline is further analyzed to understand the module inside a septic tank sewer hole at a depth
ovality & c-value of the pipeline. of 3-5 meters.

Prajesh Impex: Accessories that protect lives of safaimitras

Prajesh Impex manufactures safety gear and
accessories for the Safaimitras. Prajesh Impex
manufactured personal protective equipment for
sanitation workers as part of the Safaimitra
Suraksha Challenge.

They manufacture exclusive protective equipment

from head to toe for sanitation workers. The head
protection gear comes with ventilated helmets that
protect the head while allowing for airflow. The hand
gloves are tested and protected from acidic or
chemical gases. The inner layers are designed to
absorb sweat and give comfort to the worker when
they use it for a longer period.

The gum boots are specially designed with steel toes for wet operations. They cover the worker till the
knee and protect while having to work in nallas or drains. For dry operations, the shoes are provided
with plates that protect them from any nails or sharp objects.

For sanitation workers working in confined spaces, Prajesh Impex provides a self-contained breathing
system with lightweight cylinders. The coveralls are water-repellant. The equipment is designed to provide
comfort and protection for sanitation workers. The company also trains the SafaiMitras and ULBs in using
the safety gear.

September 2023 Administrative Staff College of India

 WASH POST
4

News
Reinventing Toilet Technology: BMGF team visits WASH Innovation Hub
The WASH Innovation Hub (WIH) at ASCI hosted a
senior delegation from the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation (BMGF) alongside a diverse group of
stakeholders and innovators. The four-day visit
marked a significant step in our journey to
revolutionize the WASH ecosystem through the
groundbreaking Reinventing Toilet Technology
(RTT).

The collective focus of the deliberations centred

on achieving inclusive sanitation and ensuring
that transformative technologies led by BMGF
are localized for greater accessibility within
communities.

The discussions addressed in length some of the areas including:

The state of Telangana leading the way in innovation and inclusive sanitation, Reengineering Sanitation, Economic Modelling, Government
Connect with us:
Collaboration, Regulations and Policies, Affordability and Accessibility, Water-saving Innovations, and Addressing STP challenges.
The discussions reaffirmed the stakeholders commitment to innovation, collaboration, and driving sustainable impact in the realm of WASH. For any queries, opportunities
for collaboration with us and

AMRUT Startup Challenge: Expert committee meets at ASCI our ecosystem

contact us at
partners,

The expert committee for the Ministry of Housing ceowih@asci.org.in,

and Urban Affairs' AMRUT India Water Pitch-Pilot- washinnovationhub@asci.org.in
Scale Start-up Challenge Phase 2 met at the ASCI
Administrative Staff College of
campus to review 220+ applications from innovators India, BellaVista Campus, Raj
across the country. The start-up challenge, which is in Bhavan Road, Khairatabad,
its second phase, aims to spur innovative, scalable Hyderabad, Telangana,
solutions in urban water management. India- 500082

www.washinnovationhub.in
Prof Srinivas Chary, Director, Centre for Environment,
Urban Governance & Infrastructure Development, WASH Innovation Hub (WIH)
ASCI chaired the committee alongside esteemed
luminaries and experts: Dr. Ramakant, Deputy @WASH_innovation
@Urban_ASCI
Adviser, CPHEEO, Prof. M S Mohan Kumar, Pro VC,
GITAM University, Dr. Pawan Labhasetwar, Chief washinnovationhub
Scientist, NEERI, Mr. Ravi Bhatnagar, Director, Reckitt,
&Dr. Rajarshi Banerjee, Assistant Professor, ASCI. 040-66534221

Similar to the previous edition, the new cycle of the

start-up challenge has nominations from promising
and groundbreaking innovations that can solve Editorial
challenges in urban water management.
Team

Prof. V. Srinivas Chary

Certificate course on Climate Resilient Urban Management & Service Delivery Asher George
Shrestha Mukherjee
Devika Ganesan
As our cities continue to expand and evolve, the looming threat
Sanchit Khandelwal
of climate change cannot be ignored. The potential impact on Sayan Mandal
India's urban landscapes is immense, with rising temperatures, Sai Kiran
extreme weather events, flooding, water scarcity, and sea-level
rise challenging the very foundations of urban life. It's time for us
to take action.

We are delighted to announce that ASCI in partnership with GIZ

Media
India is launching a Certificate Course in Climate Resilient Urban Partner:
Management and Service Delivery.

This course is designed to equip urban practitioners with the

knowledge and skills needed to plan and implement climate
resilience strategies, with a focus on urban flooding, heatwaves,
cyclones, and more.
Full-fee waiver scholarships are available for government officials.

Scan here to view

WIH website

To learn more,
and register:
https://bitly.ws/ViTn

September 2023 Administrative Staff College of India