Pledge to make Shallang open defecation free

NONGSTOIN: Thousands of villagers from 20 villages and four institutions from Shallang area took part in a One Day Non-Residential Training in Planning, Monitoring of Solid & Liquid Waste Management  and Sanitation on Wednesday which was organized by PHED, Nongstoin in collaboration with the Swacch Bharat Mission, West Khasi Hills.
The programme was held at Joplang Secondary School in Shallang.
The programme aimed at eliminating the practice of open defecation and pig sty latrine, ensuring construction of sanitary household latrine and its regular use, safe disposal of human faeces and maintaining food, personal and environmental hygiene.
During the programme, a presentation on Solid and Liquid Resource Management (SLRM) to motivate and recycle waste was also showcased.
Rallies were also organized at Shallang market lead by A.Lyngkhoi , Executive Engineer of PHE Nongstoin, M.B.Tongper BDO Mawshynrut C&RD Block, Fr. Bartho Marak, A.Khongwir S.D.O.PHE  along with other officers and thousands of students, teachers and villagers where the attendees chanted,  “Cleanliness is our responsibility, let us promote it in our society”.
James Sohbar Headmen of Sohbar village while speak in the occasion said that  the objective of the programme is to create an awareness for cleanliness and to give momentum to Swacch Bharat Mission.
He also said  it was the first of its kind in Shallang since there was no awareness related to the Swacch Bharat mission.
“We only heard the word Swacch Bharat Mission, but there is no officers or department that would organized such a programme to create an awareness how eradicate the practice of open defecation”. Sohbar said. He also expressed his happiness over the initiatives of the PHED and the SBM for organizing such a programme.
M.B.Tongper while addressing a huge gathering  appreciated the PHE department for organized the programme to inform the people of Shallang about the mission to change. He also emphasised the importance of cleanliness to the students as well as village headmen especially the villagers and asked everyone to take responsibility in creating a cleaner village.
A.Lyngkhoi, Executive Engineer of the PHED said that the main objective of the Swacch Bharat Mission was to bring about greater awareness about sanitation.
He also informed that the mission is a comprehensive programme to ensure sanitation facilities in rural areas with the broader goal to eradicate the practice of open defecation.
Lyngkhoi also called upon all the villagers of West Khasi Hills to maintain community and personal hygiene and clean environment to set an example for other villages to emulate them so as to enable the State to achieve the goal of total sanitation by 2017.