Emptying and Transportation of Faecal Sludge and Septage

The 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 the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies (DULB) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The objective was to train private emptying operators, who play a vital role in the FSM value chain, by introducing them to the standard operating procedures of emptying and transportation of faecal sludge as a part of safe handling and disposal of the sludge.Around 20 private desludgers/operators, including helpers, attended the training. 

During the training, participants were briefed about the importance of occupational health and personal hygiene, PPE usage and PRMS Acts in the sanitation sector. This was followed by practical demonstration on the use of PPEs by the participants. The participants also shared the social barriers and challenges faced in the handling of faecal sludge such as ‘social taboos’ related to faecal sludge, undesignated disposal site, parking issues, costly license procedure, alcohol addiction, and threats from the police. 

The 2nd day of the training was devoted to practical field demonstration on safe emptying and transportation of faecal sludge with the use of PPE. In the end of training, there was a review and discussion on what participants were able to understand on scale of learning about their role in the FSM value chain.