SHILLONG, OCT 3: Adding another feather on its hat, Meghalaya’s Mawlynnong village – known for its reputation as the cleanest village in Asia – was awarded with the India Today Safaigiri Award 2017.
Mawlynnong is one among the 16 cleanliness champions that were being felicitated at the third edition of the India Today Safaigiri Awards held in New Delhi on October 2.
The award was presented by the Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu to executive member of Mawlynnong village Mawthew Khongsar during the glittering event.
The Safaigiri Award was launched in 2015 after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi nominated the India Today Group and its Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Aroon Purie as ambassadors of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
Interestingly, Mawlynnong was concerned about swachhata much before the prime minister launched the swachh bharat mission.
Speaking over phone, Khongsar said, “It is yet again a moment of pride as the award brings laurels not only to the people of the village in particular but to the people of the state as a whole.”
Asked, he said, “Mawlynnong should be a source of inspiration to others to thrive towards achieving the goal of keeping one’s place clean.”
Located along the Indo-Bangladesh border in East Khasi Hills District, Mawlynnong village is about 90 km from Shillong.
Mawlynnong was awarded the prestigious tag of cleanest village in Asia in 2003 by Discover India magazine, and the cleanest in India in 2005.
A community initiative mandates that all residents should participate in cleaning up the village.
The waste is collected in the dustbins made of bamboo, directed to a pit and then used as manure.
Smoking and use of polythene is banned while rainwater harvesting is encouraged.
By Our Reporter
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