Introduction
About 73% of Madhya Pradesh’s population, some 6 crore people, live in rural areas, where there are few safe options for collecting, transporting and treating the sludge emptied from pits and septic tanks. The state has made real progress towards open defecation-free status, but faecal sludge from rural toilets is still largely unmanaged. Settlement types vary widely across the state, from compact villages to dispersed hamlets, so no single treatment model fits every Gram Panchayat (GP).
Project info
- Client: WaterAid India (Jal Seva Charitable Foundation), supporting the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) office, Madhya Pradesh
- Period: May 2023 – Jun 2023
- Location: 30 Gram Panchayats, Madhya Pradesh, India
Scope
The project addressed the sanitation challenges of rural Madhya Pradesh by assessing faecal sludge management (FSM) solutions based on cluster-level treatment and efficient collection systems. Building on WaterAid’s Kalibillod GP faecal sludge treatment plant as a demonstration model, the work first identified 30 priority Gram Panchayats (GPs), selected against a defined set of criteria, as pilot areas for the detailed design and implementation of FSM, including treatment plants.
The aim was to give the SBM office an evidence base for funding and implementing FSM in the prioritised GPs.
Services Delivered
Framework for GP Prioritisation and GIS Analysis
A decision-support framework was developed to prioritise 30 GPs for system implementation, using GIS-based spatial analysis to assess location suitability.
Rapid Technical Assessments and Data Collection
Rapid technical assessments, including stakeholder consultations and secondary data collection, were carried out to understand the challenges and opportunities in each selected GP.
Fact-Files for FS Treatment Options & Government Support
Fact-files and presentations were prepared for each GP, setting out faecal sludge (FS) treatment options, and were presented to government officials and SBM stakeholders for feedback.
Recommendation of Modules Designed for GPs
The project recommended sanitation modules suited to each GP, including clustered and standalone systems, FS management, and combined FS and greywater management.
Identification of Technology Solutions
Technology solutions were identified for the selected GPs, with preliminary cost estimates showing the financial requirements for implementation.
Implementation Phase with Government Funding
Following the recommendations, the prioritised GPs secured government funding and moved into the implementation phase.
Results
- 30 priority Gram Panchayats identified through a GIS-based decision-support framework.
- A fact-file prepared for each of the 30 GPs, covering collection, transfer station siting, truck fleet sizing and treatment options.
- Sanitation modules (clustered, standalone, FS and combined FS–greywater) recommended, with preliminary cost estimates.
- Findings presented to government officials and SBM stakeholders, and the final report submitted to WaterAid India.
- Prioritised GPs moved into implementation with government funding.
Work Illustration
The map shows the priority Gram Panchayats (GPs) identified for phased implementation of sanitation systems across Madhya Pradesh. The list results from an evaluation of parameters including population, block density, proximity to tourist locations and industries, groundwater table, proximity to waterbodies, flood risk and proximity to urban services.
