The launch of the National Policy on Faecal Sludge and Septage Management in 2017 brought unprecedented institutional attention to Non-Networked Sanitation which serves 83% of all Indian households. As of July 2020, 19 states have issued state-level Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) policies, and 109 Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTPs) have been installed across 14 states, with another 193 under construction. The continuing policy momentum and vibrant sectoral ecosystem combine to position FSM a priority area in urban service delivery. But despite (or owing to) its rapid take-up, much remains to be learnt about the management of FSM Systems.
Going forward, efficient operation of FSM systems will be imperative to further the cause of the sector. However, recent research on FSM has primarily honed in on the technological performance and capital costs of FSTPs. Therefore, with a critical mass of FSM projects now present in the country, we need to move towards the systematic collection and analysis of FSM Operations data – focusing on improving the operations. As a first step in the direction, researchers from the Scaling City Institutions for India (SCI-FI) programme studied FSM Systems in four cities to benchmark operational performance. Building on the insights from the study, the team has developed an Excel-based template to assist Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and relevant stakeholders in collecting data and performing primary analysis for FSM Monitoring.
In this context, SCI-FI is organizing a Masterclass on Monitoring Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) Systems. The 3-hour session will feature an interactive introduction to FSM operational performance indicators and the template for FSM monitoring – diving into questions like,
How efficiently are FSM assets being utilized? How to identify measures for enhancing system efficiency?
How to benchmark operational costs of Transport and Treatment?
What is the Level of Service for FSM and how to diagnose its positive and negative influencers?
How best to balance financial sustainability with inclusive service delivery through the informed design of subsidy and tariff structures?
What type of operational performance indicators within FSM Monitoring systems can help create feedback loops for performance improvement?
A brief agenda of the Masterclass can be found below.
Time
Agenda
10.00 am – 10.10 am
Setting the Context
10.10 am – 10.30 am
Discussing the Current FSM Landscape
10.30 am – 12.15 pm
Systematizing FSM Monitoring
Part 1: Diagnosing FSM Performance
Part 2: Introducing Data Template for FSM Monitoring
Part 3: Using the Template – A Case Study
12.15 pm – 12.35 pm
Taking it Forward: Digital Governance for FSM
12.35 pm – 12.50 pm
Sharing Learning Experiences
12.50 pm – 1.00 pm
Closing Remarks and Way Forward
The Masterclass is an invite-only event. For more information, please contact sci-fi@cprindia.org.
The SCI-FI programme aims to better understand ‘governance scale’ in Indian cities in tandem with ‘sector-specific socio-economic scales’. Through research, the programme aims to inform stakeholders, including the three tiers of the government, to develop better-informed policies and programmes enabling improved governance and service delivery. It has two key thematic focus in areas of Land, Housing and Planning, and Water and Sanitation. The SCI-FI programme is nested at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) since 2013.
