SHILLONG: The cleanliness-conscious residents of this village are very particular about proper disposal of waste in their area. They also took an initiative to put up hoardings and sign boards in every nook and corner of the hamlet urging people not to throw waste indiscriminately in the area. The name of the village is not Mawlynnong but Kreit which falls under Sohiong constituency.
Years before the ‘Cleanliness Campaign’ of the Government of India came into existence, the villagers of Kreit constituted the Kreit Village Welfare and Sanitation Committee (KVWSC) to fulfill its very own cleanliness mission.
The motivation behind the move was to see the village at par with the renowned Mawlynnong, dubbed Asia’s cleanest village, as far as cleanliness is concerned.
The KVWSC was formed way back in 2012 under the leadership of headman of the village, Plan Sing Lyngdoh.
After 2012, the residents started construction of toilets in their respective homes, wastes were disposed in compost pits and a proper drainage system was also put in place.
The efforts of the villagers finally paid off on Tuesday when the Mylliem C&RD Block bestowed the Nirmal Gram Puraskar Award that comes with a cash award of Rs 1. 50 lakh and the Clean & Green Award (Rs 5 lakh) to the village besides declaring it open defecation free.
“If Mawlynnong can make it as the cleanest village in Asia, why should Kreit be left behind?” said Sohiong MLA, HDR Lyngdoh while speaking as the Chief Guest during the award ceremony.
