- Equity, inclusion and sanitation workers
- Sanitation workers
- Health and safety aspects for sanitation workers
- SOP on Safety and Dignity of Sanitation Workers in Rural India
SOP on Safety and Dignity of Sanitation Workers in Rural India
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Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) on Safety and Dignity of Sanitation Workers in Rural India
This publication presents a comprehensive set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) aimed at safeguarding the health, safety, and dignity of sanitation workers engaged in rural sanitation services across India.
About the study:
The SOPs were developed in collaboration with UNICEF for the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. The document translates policy intent into actionable guidance for state and district administrations responsible for implementing rural sanitation programmes.
UMC’s role:
The Urban Management Centre (UMC) supported the development of this SOP by contributing to:
• Field-informed operational guidance
• Worker-centric safety protocols
• Institutional roles and accountability frameworks
• Structuring implementation-ready procedures aligned with national sanitation programmes
UMC also supports dissemination and adoption of these SOPs through capacity-building initiatives and engagement with government stakeholders.
What the SOP covers:
• Occupational safety protocols for sanitation workers
• Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Safe desludging, handling, and disposal practices
• Emergency response and incident reporting
• Institutional roles, monitoring, and accountability
• Measures to uphold dignity and prevent hazardous manual practices
Why this matters:
Despite policy advances, sanitation workers—particularly in rural areas—continue to face unsafe working conditions and social exclusion. These SOPs provide a practical, implementation-ready framework to operationalise safety, dignity, and rights-based sanitation governance at scale.
📄 Download the SOP here
Prepared in collaboration with: UNICEF
For: Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India
Technical support and dissemination: Urban Management Centre (UMC)
We welcome reflections from SuSanA members on implementing worker safety SOPs in rural and peri-urban contexts.
— Meghna Malhotra
Deputy Director, Urban Management Centre (UMC), India
sanitation workers, worker safety, dignity of labour, rural sanitation, SOPs, UNICEF, Ministry of Jal Shakti, DDWS, India, PPE, occupational health and safety, manual scavenging prevention, sanitation governance, equity and inclusion, FSM, safe sanitation
This publication presents a comprehensive set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) aimed at safeguarding the health, safety, and dignity of sanitation workers engaged in rural sanitation services across India.
About the study:
The SOPs were developed in collaboration with UNICEF for the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. The document translates policy intent into actionable guidance for state and district administrations responsible for implementing rural sanitation programmes.
UMC’s role:
The Urban Management Centre (UMC) supported the development of this SOP by contributing to:
• Field-informed operational guidance
• Worker-centric safety protocols
• Institutional roles and accountability frameworks
• Structuring implementation-ready procedures aligned with national sanitation programmes
UMC also supports dissemination and adoption of these SOPs through capacity-building initiatives and engagement with government stakeholders.
What the SOP covers:
• Occupational safety protocols for sanitation workers
• Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Safe desludging, handling, and disposal practices
• Emergency response and incident reporting
• Institutional roles, monitoring, and accountability
• Measures to uphold dignity and prevent hazardous manual practices
Why this matters:
Despite policy advances, sanitation workers—particularly in rural areas—continue to face unsafe working conditions and social exclusion. These SOPs provide a practical, implementation-ready framework to operationalise safety, dignity, and rights-based sanitation governance at scale.
📄 Download the SOP here
Prepared in collaboration with: UNICEF
For: Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India
Technical support and dissemination: Urban Management Centre (UMC)
We welcome reflections from SuSanA members on implementing worker safety SOPs in rural and peri-urban contexts.
— Meghna Malhotra
Deputy Director, Urban Management Centre (UMC), India
sanitation workers, worker safety, dignity of labour, rural sanitation, SOPs, UNICEF, Ministry of Jal Shakti, DDWS, India, PPE, occupational health and safety, manual scavenging prevention, sanitation governance, equity and inclusion, FSM, safe sanitation
Meghna Malhotra
Deputy Director, Urban Management Centre (UMC) – Ahmedabad, India
Urban Management Centre (UMC) is a not-for-profit organisation working with national and state governments to build capacities for inclusive and resilient urban governance.
Over the past decade, UMC has supported transformative sanitation initiatives such as:
• Garima (Odisha) – ensuring safety, dignity, and inclusion of sanitation workers
• Sanitation Workers Development Scheme (Tamil Nadu) – institutionalising welfare systems
• NAMASTE – supporting the national mission for sanitation worker empowerment
• City Livelihoods Action Plans (CLAP) – integrating urban livelihoods and gender inclusion
Visit: www.umcasia.org
Follow us: LinkedIn – Urban Management Centre
Deputy Director, Urban Management Centre (UMC) – Ahmedabad, India
Urban Management Centre (UMC) is a not-for-profit organisation working with national and state governments to build capacities for inclusive and resilient urban governance.
Over the past decade, UMC has supported transformative sanitation initiatives such as:
• Garima (Odisha) – ensuring safety, dignity, and inclusion of sanitation workers
• Sanitation Workers Development Scheme (Tamil Nadu) – institutionalising welfare systems
• NAMASTE – supporting the national mission for sanitation worker empowerment
• City Livelihoods Action Plans (CLAP) – integrating urban livelihoods and gender inclusion
Visit: www.umcasia.org
Follow us: LinkedIn – Urban Management Centre
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- Equity, inclusion and sanitation workers
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