Meghalaya celebrates Environment Day 2025
SHILLONG/MAWKYRWAT/JOWAI, June 5: With a passionate call for public participation and personal accountability in environmental conservation, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma led the celebration of World Environment Day 2025 in Meghalaya on Thursday. Rest of the state rallied with enthusiasm marking the day with plantation drives, awareness campaigns, and a slew of other activities themed on environment preservation.
Attending the Avenue Plantation of ornamental trees at Ummir Playground in Ummir village, New Shillong Township, East Khasi Hills, the chief minister planted a tree at Umniuh Junction.
In his keynote address, the Chief Minister reflected on the challenges facing Meghalaya’s ecology, presenting compelling imagery from West Khasi Hills and Mairang — areas where degradation is visibly taking its toll — urging every citizen to reflect and act.
He emphasised the urgent need for personal responsibility and collective action in safeguarding the environment. Highlighting visuals of deforestation and land degradation in parts of West Khasi Hills and Mairang which he illustrated with two videos of which he took on his mobile phone while travelling on official visit by helicopter, he called on every Meghalayan to ask themselves not “What can I do?” but “What am I going to do today to protect my environment?”
“Every small action matters — whether it’s switching off unnecessary lights, saving water, or carrying your own waste until proper disposal. These habits must become a part of our daily lives, not just today,” he asserted.
“What am I going to do?” he asked the crowd, emphasising that change begins with individual responsibility, not mere policy announcements. “Today is World Environment Day, but the commitment we show today must become a habit we live by every single day.”
He also highlighted the state’s ongoing efforts to combat climate change and reverse environmental degradation. The Conrad Sangma-led government has planted over 1.84 crore saplings in the past five years and is targeting an additional 42,000 hectares of afforestation in the next phase.
He lauded the community-led GREEN Meghalaya+ initiative — India’s largest Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) programme — which has already preserved more than 52,000 hectares of forest through grassroots engagement and financial incentives to local communities. This, he said, aligns with Meghalaya’s traditional sacred grove philosophy, combining cultural legacy with modern conservation.
In a parallel drive toward urban transformation, the chief minister formally unveiled Mission Clean Shillong 2027, a city-wide campaign aligned with the National Games 2027, aimed at making Shillong one of India’s cleanest cities. He emphasized that the mission’s success hinges on widespread citizen involvement—from students and youth leaders to local institutions and traditional heads.
He appealed to everyone to emulate practices from countries like Japan, where citizens carry their own waste until proper disposal, saying, “If every Meghalayan decides not to throw garbage on the road, the need for government action will drastically reduce.”
He reiterated that the “cleanest river” and the “cleanest village” accolades should now be matched with the “cleanest city” — a vision driven by participatory action, not top-down orders.
Policy documents
The day also witnessed the release of key policy documents — Mission Clean Shillong 2027 and Building a Climate Resilient Green Economy. These blueprints aim to integrate solid and liquid waste management, river rejuvenation, green mobility, and urban planning under a single vision — Meghalaya Vision 2032, which aspires to rank among the top 10 Indian states in Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and per capita income.
The event culminated in the felicitation of schools, colleges, localities, and community members under various categories of sustainable practices, alongside the GREEN Meghalaya+ and MegLIFE Awards honoring grassroots contributions to forest protection and environmental stewardship.
Awards, recognitions
As part of the celebrations, awards were presented to recognize exceptional contributions by educational institutions, localities, forest communities, and individuals who have shown exemplary leadership in environmental stewardship.
Among colleges, St. Edmund’s College bagged the 1st Rank while Lady Keane College earned the 2nd Rank. ‘Exemplary Commitment’ recognition was bestowed upon Synod College, Martin Luther Christian University and Seng Khasi College
Meanwhile, among higher secondary schools, BK Bajoria Higher Secondary School and Auxilium Higher Secondary School were ranked 1st and 2nd respectively.
Gorkha Higher Secondary School, Synod Higher Secondary School and St. Joseph Higher Secondary School received the ‘Exemplary Commitment’ recognition.
Whereas, in the category of Lower and Upper Primary schools, Thomas Jones School was ranked first and All Saints School (Primary) was ranked second. The Exemplary Commitment recognition recipients were Sishu Mandir LP School and Madrasa H Islam LP/UP School.
Top 10 clean localities under the Clean Shillong Grading are Mission Compound, Jaiaw Shyiap & Lumpyllon, Cleve Colony, Jaiaw Lansonalane, Jaiaw Pdeng, Riatsamthiah, Lumiablot, Wahingdoh, Nongrim Hills and Rynjah.
GREEN Meghalaya+ was conferred on Kur Nongsiang Clan in West Khasi Hills and Rongma Paromgre Community Reserve (South Garo Hills) for Forest Protection; Khlaw Adong Mawiongsung in East Khasi Hills and Nilwa Adinggre in South Garo Hills for Best Compliance; Balang Presbyterian Umsaw Nongbri and Darenggre Community Reserve for Youth Leadership; Cham Cham Village in East Jaintia Hills and Tokkol Community Reserve in North Garo Hills for Eco-Tourism; and Lumshken village and Selbalgre village for Wildlife Conservation.
MegLIFE awards were given away to ‘Afforestation Leaders’ Malchapara village (South West Garo Hills), and Tlangpui village (East Jaintia Hills); besides Piding Sangma (40.08 ha) and Bhakam Hadem (60.52 ha) for Private Land Dedication.
The award was also given to Mawlali village in East Khasi Hills for Best Soil and Water Conservation.
Assembly Committee’s initiative
The Assembly Committee on Environment commemorated the day with a tree plantation programme at the Secretariat Administrative Block of the Assembly premises, Khyndai Lad, Shillong.
Dignitaries including Deputy Speaker Timothy D Shira; Committee Chairman Wailadmiki Shylla, MLA (Jowai); Committee member Ollan Sing Suin (Mawsynram MLA); Commissioner & Secretary Andrew Simons; Secretary Malthus S Sangma; Chairman of the Lokayukta CP Marak; and other co-opted members and forest officers, besides senior officials participated in the ceremonial planting of trees within the Assembly Secretariat compound. The saplings were provided by the Forest department.
Premier institutes
Northeast’s premier institutes located in Shillong — NEIGRIHMS and NEHU — also hosted exuberant programmes separately to mark the day.
At NEIGRIHMS, a tree plantation program themed ‘End Plastic Pollution’ was organised in collaboration with the Social Forestry and Environment Wing, Meghalaya. Chief Secretary DP Wahlang was the chief guest of the occasion.
He expressed delight in engaging with students and appealed to them to educate others about environmental conservation by conducting outreach programmes. He also urged teachers to facilitate these initiatives. He announced new initiatives to clean 17 drains in Shillong, which would improve water quality.
Meanwhile, at NEHU, the Department of Environmental Studies in collaboration with EIACP PC-Hub, SCSTE Meghalaya, and the National Institute of Himalayan Environment, New Delhi, organised a grand march across the NEHU campus to commemorate World Environment Day 2025. The event brought together students, faculty, and staff from these institutions in a collective effort to promote environmental awareness and action.
Following the march, an insightful programme was held featuring distinguished speakers from various fields.
Beyond lectures, participants engaged in interactive activities, including quiz and debate competitions, fostering meaningful discussions on environmental conservation. A total of 80+ attendees participated in the program.
Over the past week, additional competitions—such as photography, painting, video clipping/documentary, and DIY projects—encouraged creativity and awareness among students and scholars. Winners were selected based on online submissions, and prizes were distributed to recognize their outstanding efforts. Also, the department conducted a week long Cleaning Drive in and around the department building in which all the students, staff and faculty members participated actively.
BSF plants over 6,000 saplings
The BSF Meghalaya planted 6,716 saplings across its AOR (Area of Responsibility) to mark the occasion of World Environment Day.
The drive was led by Inspector General, BSF Meghalaya, OP Upadhyay, who inaugurated the initiative by planting saplings within the campus. Officers and all ranks enthusiastically participated in the event, demonstrating their commitment to environmental sustainability and the force’s responsibility towards ecological well-being.
Youth taking the lead in env action
On the occasion, under the banner of ‘Regeneration Meghalaya’, a student-led painting competition and tree plantation drive was organised by the Department of Arts and Culture in collaboration with Earthtree Enviro Private Limited and the Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WICCI) – Rural Tourism Council.
The initiative engaged schools in Shillong and its neighbouring areas to promote environmental awareness through creativity and hands-on involvement, inspired from this year’s global theme #BeatPlasticPollution.
A total of 24 schools took part in the painting competition. The contestants were divided into three age-based categories. Each category featured two environmental topics, with each school nominating two students per theme per category. The artworks presented a wide spectrum of thoughtful and imaginative perspectives, highlighting the creativity and concern of the younger generation for environmental issues.
Students also planted 1,500 saplings at the LARITI Performing Centre, contributing to the ecological restoration goals of the Regeneration Meghalaya initiative.
NESFAS champions indigenous wisdom
North East Society for Agroecology Support (NESFAS) joined hands with Laitsohpliah community to amplify youth voices and promote environmental stewardship through a two-day event anchored in the global theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution.’
The gathering brought together youths from six neighbouring communities for a Cluster Co-Design Workshop, where participants engaged in interactive activities such as skits, couplet recitations, and video presentations, all centered on tackling plastic pollution and celebrating traditional ecological knowledge.
Local leaders and youth shared powerful messages throughout the day.
On the second day, the programme shifted to “Walking with Wisdom, Honouring the Environment,” with an ‘Agrobiodiversity (ABD) Walk’ guided by traditional healer and knowledge holder Twian Nongrum. The youth explored her lush forest garden, learning about edible plants, sacred trees, and the cultural significance of biodiversity. The walk served as a powerful tribute to nature and an intergenerational exchange of Indigenous knowledge.
This initiative was part of the Indigenous Youth Fellowship (May 26 – June 5, 2025), which convened 24 youth from 17 communities across East Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi districts.
Pynursla’s blend of env, heritage
In a collaborative celebration of nature, culture, and heritage under Living Heritage Project 2047, the Ministry of Tourism’s Shillong Office (North Eastern Region) along with the Heritage committee of the Khun Kur Longtrai Lai Kynthei of Raid Shabong and the Living Bridge Foundation, Pynursla, hosted a celebration on the occasion of World Environment Day.
The founder of Living Bridge Foundation, Headman and the teachers as well as students of Pdeng Raid Raid Shabong Border Area Secondary School, Pynursla, jointly celebrated the day by discussing the importance of planting trees, especially the Ficus elastica or the rubber plant. The Assistant Director of Indiatourism Shillong was presented with a rubber plant to plant near a local river body in Raid Shabong, Khyrim Syiemship to sustain the watershed. Around 500 students, committee members of Living Bridge Foundation and the village community enthusiastically participated in the event.
Beyond
In Mawkyrwat, South West Khasi Hills, Jowai, West Jaintia Hills, and Khliehriat, East Jaintia Hills, plantation drives and cleaning drive organsied by the government as well as civil society organisations (CSOs) marked the day in the two districts.
The District Planning Office, Mawkyrwat, organised a tree plantation drive, which was actively participated by officers, teachers and students from different parts of the district.
Another programme at Jashiar village in Shilliang Um Rilang area under Mawkyrwat C&RD Block saw an awareness event on preservation of the environment. A tree plantation drive was also held on the premise of the Treatment Plant of the Laitnong Combine Water Supply Scheme, Jashiar.
Meanwhile, the KSU South West Khasi Hills District in collaboration with the Seng Samla Shnong Mawkyrwat conducted a cleaning drive in an around Phot Umnew of Sala River, one of the sources of drinking water in Mawkyrwat.
In Jowai, the office of the Deputy Commissioner of West Jaintia Hills organised a tree plantation drive in an area near U Mot Kiang Nangbah continuing towards Jowai-Chyrmang road up to the old suspension bridge at Syntu Ksiar.
Deputy Commissioner Abhinav Kumar Singh led the initiative motivating officers, staff and community members to join in enhancing the environment.
Meanwhile, in East Jaintia Hills, a programme was held at the Conference Hall of the DC’s Office to mark the occasion. Cleanliness and tree plantation drives were held in the compound of the office of the Deputy Commissioner.