Recently, a few thought leaders and their followers gathered in Mumbai in a two-day event to discuss the priority and chalk out the next action plans to achieve the ‘Open Defecation Free’ (ODF) status for India by 2019. As an offset of the Government’s ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ (Clean India Mission), launched under the leadership of the Hon. Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, the event delivered several practical ideas on overcoming the challenges on the way.
The World Toilet Summit-2018 hosted several interactive sessions with renowned keynote speakers and expert panelists. It has created a base for the establishment of multi-sectoral partnerships, leveraging on local as well as international movements that will be supportive to the Swachh Bharat Mission.
Besides delegates from leading corporate houses, Government agencies, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and social business entrepreneurs, presence of different religious organisations like: Paramarth Niketan and Jeeva Foundation added an extra weightage to the event. Muslim leader Mr. Maulana Masood and some other Buddhist leaders also graced the occasion with their active presence. All the religious leaders promised to deliver their best to achieve the ODF status for India.
Film Star Mr. Akshay Kumar who is also the Harpic Swachh Bharat Ambassador addressed the gathering. Mr. Kumar explained when he went to a village for shooting he heard that one lady took divorce from her husband only because their family did not have a toilet. Shocked Mr. Kumar later took up the issue and actively joined the cleanliness movement. This made him decide to take up the leading role in the film ‘Toilet: Ek Prem Katha’. Later to promote sanitary hygiene Mr. Kumar acted in the movie ‘Padman’.
Through his video message, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr. Devendra Fadnavis communicated that Maharashtra declared the ODF (Open Defecation Free) status last October. Now the State will work on the sustainability of the ODF status. He also asserted that under the dynamic leadership of Mr. Narendra Modi, this is a reality that by 2019, India will be Open Defecation Free.
Field experts like Mr. Gary White, CEO & Founder of Water.org; Mr. Jack Sim, Founder of World Toilet Organisation (WTO); Dr. Dayanand Panse, Director of Ecosan Services Foundation (ESF); Mr. Madhusudan Lohia, Director of Merino Industries; and Ms. Jin Montesano, Chief Public Affairs Officer of LIXIL Group were also present in the event. Dr. Parameswaran Iyer, Secretary, Swachh Bharat Mission received the life-time achievement award in sanitation.
In his concluding remark, Dr. Panse drew attention on the fact, “While moving towards the realization of this target of making the world and India Open Defecation Free, we need to work relentlessly to see that this status remains permanently. As per our experience, because of reasons like faulty design or lack of sufficient water etc., the people leave the use of constructed toilets, and again the vicious circle starts. We have to be watchful to prevent such recurrence.”
