TNUSSP

IIHS, leading the Tamil Nadu Urban Sanitation Support Programme (TNUSSP), organised a two-day training on ‘Occupational Safety and Health for Sanitation Workers Engaged in Septic Tanks Desludging’, in collaboration with the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department (MAWS), Government of Tamil Nadu, and the Regional Labour Institute (RLI), Directorate General Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India. The programme brought together Sanitary Inspectors, Supervisors, and De-Sludging Operators from 20 Municipalities in the Chengalpattu region of Tamil Nadu. Sanitary Inspectors and Supervisors play a critical decision-making role in planning and implementing septic tank and sewer cleaning operations, activities that involve multiple workplace hazards, including confined space entry. The training forms part of TNUSSP’s decade-long engagement to strengthen occupational safety and health (OSH) practices in sanitation work. A total of 51 participants engaged in classroom sessions, field demonstrations, and simulation exercises to build a stronger understanding of occupational safety. Key themes included vehicle and site safety, hazardous process management, with particular emphasis on atmospheric gas measurement and confined space safety. Cross-cutting discussions addressed occupational and mental health, as well as safety communication. The sessions were delivered by a multidisciplinary technical team comprising representatives from the Regional Labour Institute; the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services (DMS), Government of Tamil Nadu; Fire and Rescue Services, Government of Tamil Nadu; and subject experts. Anamika Ramesh, I.A.S., Joint Commissioner of Municipal Administration, Government of Tamil Nadu, attended the closing session and encouraged participants to translate their learnings into safer on-ground practices. The sessions drew from a needs assessment study IIHS conducted in 2018 across two Indian cities, underscoring the importance of moving beyond Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and ensuring sanitation workers’ participation in safety-related decision-making. In 2022, TNUSSP developed a First Aid Training Manual for De-sludging Workers focused on workplace emergency management and accident prevention. Since 2023, TNUSSP has worked with RLI and the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Hygiene (DISH) to develop a comprehensive OSH Manual for sanitation workers engaged in de-sludging; the present training drew directly on these principles.

IIHS at the Regional Conference on Sustainable and Resilient Mountain Settlements in the Hindu Kush Himalaya Niladri Chakraborti (Senior Lead – Practice) participated in the Regional Conference on Sustainable and Resilient Mountain Settlements in the Hindu Kush Himalaya, jointly organised by the Royal Government of Bhutan, ICIMOD, and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), India, held in Thimphu from 2–4 December 2025. The conference brought together governments, practitioners, researchers, and development partners to strengthen regional collaboration for sustainable, resilient, and inclusive mountain settlements. Discussions focused on nature-based and vernacular solutions, decentralised and circular WASH and sanitation systems, and data-driven planning approaches suited to fragile mountain ecosystems. Niladri was a panellist in the technical session on “Pathways for wider adoption and scaling-up of decentralised and nature-based systems to safely manage WASH.” He spoke about Tamil Nadu’s experience in scaling decentralised, nature-based WASH systems and in implementing City-Wide Inclusive Sanitation, highlighting their relevance for climate-vulnerable Himalayan contexts.

The IIHS–led Tamil Nadu Urban Sanitation Support Programme (TNUSSP) made a strong presence at the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition 2025, contributing to global dialogues on water, sanitation, and inclusive urban service delivery. Represented by Sasikumar Eswaramurthy and N. Abhilaasha, the team engaged in a rich programme of knowledge exchange through three workshops, a panel discussion, a technical presentation, and a poster pitch, interacting with practitioners, researchers, and policymakers from across the world. These engagements helped position IIHS–TNUSSP’s practice-based learnings within global innovation pathways for sustainable urban sanitation, reaffirming our commitment to evidence-informed and collaborative solutions.

Join us tomorrow at the IWA Water and Development Congress for our workshop on Driving Disruptive Change in Public Toilets across Asia and Africa. 📅 Friday 12 December ⏰ 13:30 to 15:00 (GMT+7) 📍 Room MR10 C The session will explore practical strategies for improving sustainability, hygiene behaviour and long term performance in public toilet systems. Looking forward to an engaging discussion. #waterdevelopmentcongress

Join us tomorrow at the IWA Water and Development Congress for our session on Integrating Climate and Sanitation Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Solutions. 📅 Thursday 11 December ⏰ 16:30 to 17:00 (GMT+7) 📍 Room MR10 C The panel will discuss how India is advancing inclusive, resilient and climate aligned urban sanitation. It will highlight climate sanitation links, essential adaptation and resilience needs, and practical insights from policy, infrastructure and community practices. Looking forward to an engaging session. #waterdevelopmentcongress #UrbanSanitation #ClimateResilience #WASH #SustainableCities

Join us tomorrow at the IWA Water and Development Congress for our session on Decentralized Sanitation Innovations and Scalable Urban–Rural Wastewater Management. 📅 10 December 🕒 13:30–15:00 (GMT+7) 📍 Room MR109 (A+B) We’ll explore emerging technologies, circular sanitation solutions, and scalable models from across regions. Looking forward to meaningful discussions. #waterdevelopmentcongress

Join us this morning at the IWA Water and Development Congress! Our workshop on Effecting Improved Intermittent Water Supply begins at 10:30 AM (GMT+7) in Room MR109. Hear insights from India, Bangladesh, and beyond as we discuss strategies to strengthen IWS operations and guide the shift toward continuous water supply. See you at the session. #WaterDevelopmentCongress

Dive into five days of ideas, innovation, and real-world solutions shaping the future of water and sanitation. Join us in Bangkok as global experts come together to unpack challenges, share breakthroughs, and explore what it takes to build resilient, inclusive WASH systems for tomorrow. See you at the IWA Water and Development Congress 2025! 🗓️ 8–12 December 2025 📍 Bangkok, Thailand

Join us at the IWA Water and Development Congress & Exhibition 2025! The Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS), University of Bradford, and Water & Sanitation for Urban Population (WSUP) are jointly hosting a side event on Effecting Improved Intermittent Water Supply (IWS). Poorly managed Intermittent Water Supply continues to drive inequity in urban water access, affecting both quantity and quality. While Continuous Water Supply (CWS) remains the policy aspiration, the operational challenges of IWS often remain unaddressed. This session will explore these challenges and present evidence-based strategies to improve IWS operations. The focus will be on strengthening equity, enhancing service quality, and improving last-metre connectivity for urban poor communities. 📅 09 December 2025 ⏰ 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM (GMT +7) 📍 Side Event | Room MR109, Bangkok We look forward to learning, sharing, and engaging with global experts at this year’s Congress. @IWAHQ @iihsin @UniofBradford @WSUP_Intl

On 19 Sept 2025, the WASH Club met for its 2nd monthly session with 24 student members, supported by the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) and HCL Foundation. This month’s focus was Handwashing and World Cleanup Day. Students learnt through a glitter experiment, video, and live demo how important proper handwashing is. They will now create awareness charts in classrooms and remind peers before meals. Ahead of World Cleanup Day, children also took part in a game on keeping surroundings clean and discussed how they can be role models in their community. The students have committed to share these lessons with their families and neighbourhoods – showing how small actions can lead to a cleaner, healthier future. @iihsin @HCL_Foundation #WASHClub #Handwashing #WorldCleanupDay #YouthAction #CleanFuture #StudentsLead #HealthAndHygiene #IIHS #HCLFoundation #ActNow

On 19 Sept 2025, the WASH Club met for its 2nd monthly session with 24 student members, supported by the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) and HCL Foundation. This month’s focus was Handwashing and World Cleanup Day. Students learnt through a glitter experiment, video, and live demo how important proper handwashing is. They will now create awareness charts in classrooms and remind peers before meals. Ahead of World Cleanup Day, children also took part in a game on keeping surroundings clean and discussed how they can be role models in their community. The students have committed to share these lessons with their families and neighbourhoods – showing how small actions can lead to a cleaner, healthier future. @iihsin @HCL_Foundation #WASHClub #Handwashing #WorldCleanupDay #YouthAction #CleanFuture #StudentsLead #HealthAndHygiene #IIHS #HCLFoundation #ActNow

Over 85 sanitation workers in Kannagi Nagar have completed a two-part Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Training organised by the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) with support from the @HCL_Foundation. These workers, engaged in solid waste management, drainage clearance, and pumping station operations, are vital to the community’s health and cleanliness. The first module, held on 30 August, focused on workplace safety protocols, hazard identification, and protective measures, and featured sessions by Dr Sathappan from Ramachandra Medical College and Dr Prabhakar, with a keynote by Dr Manivelan, State Nodal Officer (SNC–OHS), and the presence of TNUHDB Community Officers. The second module, conducted on 13 September, highlighted occupational health and first aid through interactive demonstrations led by specialists from the State Nodal Office for OHS and ESI Hospital, with Ms Aishwarya from HCL Foundation and Mr Tirupathi, Assistant Executive Engineer, TNUHDB, as special guests. At the conclusion, participants received certificates and mementos in recognition of their commitment to workplace safety and public service. By equipping sanitation workers—the backbone of Kannagi Nagar’s WASH ecosystem—with essential knowledge and skills, the programme enhances their dignity and resilience while contributing to a safer, healthier, and more sustainable urban environment. #SanitationWorkers #workplacesafety #CommunityHealth #IIHS #HCLFoundation #PublicHealth #SustainableCities

The first cohort of Catalysing Urban Systems Change has begun their learning journey. This diverse cohort of practitioners, researchers, and leaders are engaging with the complexities of large-scale urban programmes — drawing on lessons from the Tamil Nadu Urban Sanitation Support Programme. Bringing expertise from organisations including NuSocia, Aga Khan Foundation, Hasiru Dala, Janaagraha, Climate Trends, PHIA Foundation, eGov Foundation, Praxis and more—these participants are connecting practice with systemic change. Rooted in the TNUSSP experience, which transformed the urban sanitation chain across Tamil Nadu, the course offers insights into how development practitioners can enable equitable, resilient, and inclusive change in complex urban systems.

The Tamil Nadu Urban Sanitation Support Programme (TNUSSP) conducted a half-day regional-level orientation on “Interventions for Improving Fecal Sludge Management (FSM)” from 19–22 August 2025 at the RDMA Office, Tirunelveli. Organised at the request of the Regional Directorate of Municipal Administration (RDMA), the programme brought together 135 participants from 22 municipalities, including commissioners, municipal engineers, sanitary officers, inspectors, and newly inducted staff. The sessions were inaugurated by RDMA Vijayalakshmi P and Executive Engineer Sanal Kumar R, who emphasised the importance of strengthening FSM systems as a cornerstone of sustainable urban sanitation. Technical sessions were led by TNUSSP’s Anand P K and Sivaraj V, who spoke on FSM treatment systems and the cluster approach, operations and maintenance models with co-composting, the importance of periodic de-sludging and operator licensing, and the role allocation for Urban Local Body officials. The sessions encouraged participants to share field experiences, clarify operational challenges, and align practices with the latest DMA directives. By fostering inter-district collaboration and building clarity on FSM service delivery, this initiative marked an important step in reinforcing Tamil Nadu’s commitment to safe sanitation and effective fecal sludge management across all Urban Local Bodies. #FaecalSludge #FecalSludgeManagement #FSM #WASH #Sanitation #IndiaSanitation #SDG6

IIHS, in collaboration with the National Institute for Urban Affairs (NIUA) and other NFSSM Alliance partners, successfully conducted a 2-day Training of Trainers (ToT) on Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) in sanitation (21–22 August) at Dr. Raghunandan Singh Tolia Uttarakhand Academy of Administration, Nainital, Uttarakhand. The training brought together 35+ practitioners, academicians including representatives from the ULBs and Jalsasthan of Haridwar, Nainital, and Kashipur, along with members of the NFSSM Alliance. This was the second in a series of three ToTs being developed by IIHS and NIUA to build capacity on urban sanitation. The training focused on: 🔹 Identifying OHS hazards and risks (both safety and health) across the sanitation service chain – along with different exposure routes and consequences. 🔹 Applying tools such as the Hierarchy of Controls and Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment (HIRA). 🔹 Emphasizing periodic health checks and implementing strong health screening protocols. 🔹 Understanding legal and regulatory frameworks relevant to occupational health and safety in sanitation. 🔹 Strengthening institutional practices to uphold the safety, dignity, and well-being of sanitation workers. The two-day interactive training was delivered through a blend of classroom sessions and live demonstrations #OHS #SanitationWorkers #SafeSanitation #WorkerProtection #UrbanWASH #NFSSMAlliance #IIHS #NIUA

28+ leaders. 8 states. 1 powerful conversation on India’s urban future. IIHS joined the Cities Rising Summit to share our work on infrastructure resilience and CWIS. Grateful to see Maraimalai Nagar in the room, shaping change with action. #CitiesRising #UrbanLeadership #IIHS #CWIS

The training was attended by officers from Uttarakhand's Urban Development Directorate, representatives from Haridwar, Dehradun, Ramnagar and Haldwani ULBs, and members of the @NFSSMalliance.

This equipped participants to: - Apply a GEDSI lens to sanitation - Integrate GEDSI in planning & service delivery - Explore fiscal innovations (gender budgeting) - Understand connections between gender - based violence and WASH - Ensure safe, inclusive workplaces for workers

@iihs_in recently spearheaded a two-day Training of Trainers (ToT) on Gender, Equity, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) in Sanitation in collab with @NIUA_India and @NFSSMalliance partners. @dasra @umcasia @gatesfoundation @CSEINDIA @WaterAidIndia @oua_odisha @CREA

No more long walks—essential support is now just around the corner. A powerful step forward for dignity, access, inclusion, youth leadership, and last-mile service delivery. #ecenter #eSevai #YouthLeadership #SanitationWorkers #UrbanTransformation #UrbanInclusion #DigitalAccess #CommunityLedChange #TNUSSP #IIHS

📢 New E-Centre Brings Government Services Closer to Sanitation Worker Families in Pudukkottai Through our training, local youth Raja from Kamarajapuram, launched a community e-centre in Vandi Pettai, helping 3,000+ sanitation worker families easily access government services.