EGOV | Viega Foundation

EGOV: MAKING SANITATION SAFE, MECHANIZED, AND, DIGNIFIED.

INDIA | STATUS: CURRENT

In India, manual desludging services have long been a critical issue, often characterized by unsafe working conditions and a lack of dignity for sanitation workers. Many urban areas still rely on manual methods for emptying sewage channels and septic tanks, exposing workers to hazardous environments and health risks.

However, the transition to mechanized desludging is crucial not only for improving the safety and dignity of sanitation workers but also for enhancing overall urban sanitation. By adopting modern technologies and practices, cities can better manage waste, reduce health risks, and create a cleaner environment for all residents.

Left: Manual desludging remains a challenge across India.

EGOV: MAKING SANITATION SAFE, MECHANIZED, AND, DIGNIFIED.

eGov is a multi-disciplinary team of technologists, policy thinkers, program specialists, and problem solvers united by a shared mission - to reimagine how essential public services are designed and delivered, making them equitable, accessible, and transparent for all.

Over the past two decades, eGov has partnered with 10+ countries and 2,600+ towns and cities in India, improving the lives of over 2 billion people. Their Faecal Sludge Management solution has already been adopted in the state of Odisha (population ~50 Mio) enabling end-end traceability of faecal waste from homes to Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants.

Left: Manual desludging remains a challenge across India.

EGOV: MAKING SANITATION SAFE, MECHANIZED, AND, DIGNIFIED.

Manual desludging is still a commonplace activity in India. This practice is deeply rooted in the centuries-old caste system, where certain communities have been tagged to do the hazardous sanitation work and treated as outcasts.

The challenge is made harder by India’s diverse geography and climate, poor infrastructure, and low public awareness about the dangers of manual work. The Urban Local Bodies – the city’s administrative bodies – often lack clear information about available equipment and personnel capacities. Without this, it is difficult for them to coordinate desludging services or protect the workers who risk their lives.

Left: Manual desludging remains a challenge across India.

EGOV: MAKING SANITATION SAFE, MECHANIZED, AND, DIGNIFIED.

India’s policy environment is ripe and prioritizes mechanization and worker safety. Governments are seeking scalable, tech-led solutions. This project will assess the current landscape, map stakeholders, and identify gaps. Governments, NGOs, private providers, and workers will co-create solutions.

The output will be a program and technology plan for Urban Local Bodies to implement a digital solution which provides real-time information on available equipment, protective gear, and qualified sanitation workers. This will enable ULBs take evidence-based decisions for safer operations and improved sanitation services. Thereby, sanitation workers will be able to work safely and with dignity, while the public benefits from improved desludging and sanitation services.

Left: Manual desludging remains a challenge across India.