UP's Journey Towards Faecal Sludge and Septage Management

This report documents the landmark journey of Uttar Pradesh (UP) in establishing sustainable faecal sludge and septage management (FSSM), marking a critical shift from achieving household toilet coverage to ensuring safely managed sanitation. It captures how the state’s progressive policy framework, anchored by the State Septage Management Policy, has driven one of India’s most significant sanitation scale-ups. 

 

While celebrating the rapid establishment of faecal sludge treatment plants (FSTPs) and co-treatment facilities, the report offers an assessment of ongoing implementation challenges, particularly addressing issues such as low plant utilisation and capacity building. Crucially, it outlines the next critical steps for long-term sustainability—strengthening regulatory oversight, embedding gender-inclusive practices through the empowerment of women self-help groups (SHGs), and maximising resource recovery to secure a resilient and self-sustaining sanitation future for all of UP. 

 

It is an essential read for policymakers and urban practitioners seeking to understand how to translate a national sanitation mandate into successful, large-scale municipal action, including overcoming challenges in finance, operations, and community engagement.