India serves as a learning ground for the rest of the world in dealing with sanitation and hygiene issues, thanks to the success of the Union government-led Swachch Bharat Mision, participants said at the World Toilet Summit being hosted in Mumbai said on Monday.

Organised by the Singapore- based global body, World Toilet Organisation (WTO), the two-day meeting, which has come to India for the third time, marks the World Toilet Day, organised every year on 19 November after the UN adopted this day in 2013.

“I am happy to see the efforts by WTO and their partners taking necessary steps to achieve ODF (open defecation free) status,” said Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in a video message on the inaugural of the summit.

“I am sure with the given pace, we will make ODF India by 2019, as planned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

Fadnavis announced in his message that Maharashtra has become 100 per cent ODF, 55 per cent of which has been covered since 2014, when the Swachch Bharat campaign was launched.

“After becoming ODF, we have given plans of sustainability to every village Panchayat, encouraging them by presenting awards every year,” he said. “Even kids engaged themselves in the awareness drive. We also did a lot of work on clean water and all this led to creation of jobs and economic development. Now, rural area is witnessing major transformation with this and many other initiatives.”

The problem of lack of toilets and open defecation is not limited to India, noted Jack Sim, founder of WTO, stating that it was important for everyone to work unanimously and contribute to achieve 100 per cent ODF.

“Toilet is becoming a big subject. In India it has become very important and is now a very marketable subject,” Sim added. He called for a comprehensive behavioural change strategy to focus on bringing the change in the mindset of people and also provide sustainable solution for easy access.

The opening day of the summit saw presentations by thought leaders and experts in the subject. It also facilitated international stakeholder discussions and brought together government, corporate and civil society on a common platform.

In her keynote address, Naina Lal Kidwai, Chairperson of India Sanitation Coalition, said despite the immense achievement in providing toilets, there are several challenges out there. A major issue was behavioural change, she said.

In a session with actor Akshay Kumar, participants were regaled with his experiences while making his much-acclaimed film Toilet, Ek Prem Katha. “I realised there is no point making documentaries,” the actor candidly shared. “A commercial film like this gets ready acceptance and the message goes out instantly.”