Conference on Partnership To Scale Up: Innovative Solutions For Urban Sanitation

The launch of Swachh Bharat Mission - Urban (SBM-U) in 2014 ushered a tectonic shift in urban sanitation. SBM-U has targets to provide 66.42 lakh IIHLs, 2.52 lakh community toilets, 2.56 public toilets across urban India. Till April 2018, 46.36 lakh IHHLs and 3.6 lakh public and community toilets have been constructed. A total of 2,043 ULBs have been declared ODF. 61,846 wards in the country now practice 100% door to door collection of solid waste. Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) was launched in 2015 covering 500 cities across the country with over one lakh population. National Policy on Faecal Sludge and Septage Management was launched in February 2017. The policy aims to provide and strengthen safe faecal sludge treatment and septage management. SBM, AMRUT and FSSP together seek to provide sustainable sanitation services to the urban population. 

Despite such significant political support and visibility, a number of systemic gaps exist in the implementation of sanitation programmes. One such concern is the gap between access to and usage of toilets where construction of toilets (IHHL and public and community toilets) have outpaced behaviour change. There have been concerns with context specificity of technology, quality of constructions, and sustainability of the movement. The capacity of ULBs and other city authorities to implement and sustain sanitation movement with such a scale and pace is still limited. A systemic policy and concerted effort to develop institutional and individual capacity has been missing. Many non-state actors work in isolation, missing out possible synergy in approach, target, and results. A comprehensive framework for partnership based on complementarities and inherent strengths of each actor can address many unresolved challenges. Partnership, innovation, and capacity are intrinsically linked to ensuring inclusive sanitation services. 

A state level consultation on ‘’Partnership to scale up Innovative Solutions for Urban Sanitation’ was held in Jaipur on 30 May, 2018. The event was organised in collaboration with National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA); Centre for Development Communication (CDC), Manipal University and the Institute for Development Studies (IDS), Jaipur. The event aimed to (a) create a learning and knowledge platform through multi-stakeholder dialogues, and  (b) inform and influence policies and institutions to enhance the impact of urban sanitation programmes in the state. The conference brought together policy makers, researchers, and practitioners across governments, ULBs, parastatals, CSOs, academia, media, CSR, and representatives from the communities to gain insights on how a partnership approach can scale up innovations and capacity development with respect to urban sanitation solutions. 

There were four technical sessions. The first session discussed how efficient use of SLBs and appropriate financing can make sanitation services inclusive. The second session focussed on discussing the implementation challenges of achieving ODF and ODF ++ and identifying emerging innovative solutions. The third session deliberated upon implementation challenges for Solid Waste Management and emerging solutions from different cities. The fourth session explored how partnership and collaboration among various stakeholders can bring synergistic action towards inclusive sanitation. 

A number of successful interventions in urban sanitation were presented. PRIA has done significant work on citizen engagement in the city of Ajmer. This is an important area of institutionalising innovations. Indore’s model of integrated urban sanitation strategy was discussed in detail. The integration was conducted at a granular level where the youth, women, men and institutions of Indore took ownership of the city and made it a matter of pride to keep the city clean. It was pointed out that 100% segregation of waste at individual household level is the only possible solution for any city to be bin free, litter free and dust free. This segregation is also essential for converting waste into energy. CFAR’s initiative to form a management committee to monitor sanitation services in each ward was also presented. 

The consultation opened up critical discussions on the need for a comprehensive strategy for convergent work in urban spaces by convening multi-stakeholder participation. It was agreed that innovation need not just be technology enabled but new ways of thinking and building local solutions to sanitation challenges are important.

Success of SBM in achieving ODF was lauded. However, it was also realised that a lot still needs to be done to achieve ODF+ and ODF++ which will ensure usage of toilets and reuse and recycling of waste . Importance of including informal settlements in urban planning to give them access to both sanitation and health was stressed.

The role of elected representatives in bringing behavioural changes amongst citizens was especially recognised.

How do ensure issues of women are included in the planning process? There is a need to integrate gender in sanitation planning, especially of urban poor women. How much responsibility must the state take in including the urban poor? The question though remains: how do we sustain civil society organisations of the urban poor?

Prior to scaling up innovations, a need for basic improvements in operation of SWM was also stressed upon. This could be done through strengthening SWM operations by ULBs, engaging citizens as change agents/enablers and monitoring and strengthening the regulatory framework (at state + ULB levels). 

Accessibility to basic sanitation services is also one of the SDGs which can be acted upon through microplanning, keeping in mind that different cities have different contexts.

Important questions that can be explored in future consultations were raised, such as: how we can demonstrate sanitation through participation? How partnerships can enable sustainable sanitation model? The day long conversation was concluded by reiterating –‘Sabka saath sabka vikas.’ because sanitation is such an issue that if we leave any single stakeholder, it will be unachievable. At present in the sanitation value chain people are all holders, there stakes haven’t been made. Hence, people have to be turned into stakeholders.