Source: news.bbc.co.uk
MEGHALAYA, INDIA, September 27, 2009: A small village in the north-eastern Indian state of Meghalaya has become the envy of its neighbors. Large crowds of visitors have been thronging to the village curious to find out why Mawlynnong has earned the reputation for being arguably the cleanest and best educated in India.
About 55 miles from the state capital Shillong, Mawlynnong is much loved by its inhabitants who work hard to keep it clean. The streets are all dotted with dustbins made of bamboo. Every piece of litter and almost every leaf that has fallen from a tree is immediately discarded. Plastic is completely banned and all waste disposal is environmentally friendly. Rubbish is thrown into a pit dug in a forest near the village where it is left to turn into compost. The villagers here say that lessons in hygiene start in school so that children can be taught from an early age how to keep their surroundings clean and green.
Keeping it clean now comes naturally to most people here. The village headman says the village council – or Darbar – maintains very strict discipline. There is a fine imposed by the village council for anybody found to be throwing litter around or cutting trees.