Operationalizing FSM regulations at city level: a case study of Warangal, India

Warangal is the first city in India to introduce and operationalize Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) regulation. Evidence based advocacy, leadership at city level, citizen awareness campaigns, capacity building of stakeholders particularly the mechanised desludging operators, extensive use of information and communication technology (ICT) tools for monitoring have played an important role in operationalizing the regulation. The City government through FSM regulation has successfully introduced : a) empanelment and training of masons (as toilet builders) to ensure toilets are built as per design principles, b) site inspection by the sanitation team prior to issuance of building plan approval, c) licences to operate mechanised desludging and service level agreement with private operators d) usage of personal protective equipment by the desludging operators e) a mobile app in vernacular language for record keeping on desludging f) a dedicated helpline for citizens to seek support on FSM operations and g) awareness campaigns on safe FSM and scheduled desludging. Lessons from Warangal are being scaled up through introduction of State level FSM regulation and operational guidelines.