Training on Emptying and Transportation of Faecal Sludge and Septage

Date:  October 14-15, 2019

Venue: Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

CSE has signed MoU with DoUD Uttar Pradesh to provide program support to mainstream faecal sludge and septage management to achieve city wide sanitation. CSE has set-up a Programme Support Unit (PSU) in Lucknow and Technical Support Units (TSU) in Bijnor and Chunar city. The idea is to support by facilitating and handholding the state and city-level agencies in planning, creating operating guidelines and enabling frameworks, as well as designing and executing Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM) practices in cities across the state of Uttar Pradesh. In addition to this, CSE is committed to build capacities of state officials, decision makers and other stakeholders involved in the implementation of city, state and national level sanitation program. 

Water Programme in collaboration with KAM Foundation conducted a ‘training on Emptying and Transportation of Faecal Sludge and Septage’ on October 14-15, 2019 at Directorate of Urban Local Bodies (DULB) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The objective of the training was to train private emptying operators, who plays a vital role in FSM value chain by introducing them to standard operating procedure of emptying and transportation of faecal sludge in vision of safe handling and disposal of faecal sludge. Around 20 private desludgers/operators including helpers attended the 2-day training. Participants mainly included private desludgers, registered desludgers and Municipal sanitary officials from Bijnor, Chunar and Lucknow. CSE Water team has identified 13 private deslugers from Bijnor, 3 registered desludgers from Chunar and 6 from Lucknow for maximum participation by private desludgers. 

The training started with an inauguration speech by Mrs. Rashmi Singh, Deputy Director, Local Bodies Directorate followed by ice breaking session and introduction to sanitation ecosystem. During the training, participants were trained about the importance of occupational health, safety andpersonal hygiene, usage of Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) and Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Acts (PRMS) in sanitation sector. This was followed by practical demonstration on the use of PPEs by the participants. Further to this, the sessions were tailored-made which included classroom session and group exercises. The participants shared the issues and challenges they face while working like social barriers in practice of handling of faecal sludgeas ‘social taboos’, undesignated disposal site, parking issues, costly license procedure, alcohol addiction, and threats from the police. With respect to this, there was in depth discussion with the participants which provided the ideas for their concerns and how to tackle them efficiently. The training also managed to capture technical aspects, where participants learnt about different ways of mechanisation without any requirement of manual handling. 

A guest speaker – Mr. Om Kumar Singh from SUDA, NULM, UP enlighten the participants about the 5 schemes of NULM for the livelihood of sanitation workers and management 

Day 2 started with the reflection session of the previous day training followed by practical field demonstration on safe emptying and transportation of faecal sludge with the use of PPE. A septic tank present in the Hostel building of DULB was chosen to give a mechanised emptying demonstration to the participants. A fully mechanized vacuum machine designed and procured by KAM foundation was used for showcasing the safe emptying and transportation of FS to disposal site. In addition to this, the team has also provided an overview of CSE’s work in Bijnor, Chunar and Lucknow to the participants.  

The last session of the training ended with review and discussion on what participants were able to understand on scale of learning about their role in FSM value chain; If, the training material and methodology was enough to put an imprint on participants mind and their way of doing business or giving FSM service; If this initiative would urge them to bring changes in their way of handling FS and add sustainability to their business. 

The training ended with post assessment & feedback session on how the learnings can be taken forward and other suggestions. 

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