This report is based on a study to inform the Sanitation Mission of eGovernments Foundation in the process of its development of a digital platform to support the efficient and effective functioning of FSM services, with a focus on Odisha. The findings from this study are expected to provide inputs for the design of gender equal and inclusive FSM services. The study is based on review of documents and discussions with the concerned state agencies and other stakeholders. Discussions with communities and FSTP management teams also provided valuable inputs.

The study, while highlighting the dynamics of gender and social inclusion in sanitation and FSM, reiterates the fact that these should be addressed as an integral part of service delivery to ensure outcomes and not as standalone elements and interventions. It also observes that mobile based applications, like Whatsapp, appear to be the most comfortable and usable method of digital communication for both the community as well as the service providers of FSM services. An overall framework for analysis, as well as an ecosystem map of urban sanitation with a focus on FSM, was also developed in the process of the study.