Learn how the cleanest villages in India are setting the standard for cleanliness, sustainability, and neighborhood-based environmental initiatives.
What image comes to mind when you think of an area that is clean and green? A city of the future with advanced waste management technology? Perhaps a clean park in a city neighborhood? Surprisingly, India’s villages have some of the country’s cleanest and most sustainable locations. People have banded together in these tiny villages to create a clean, environmentally conscious way of life.
They have adopted eco-friendly farming practices, outlawed plastic, and made cleaning a daily habit because they feel it is the right thing to do, not because someone told them to. One clean street, one recycled plastic bottle, and one collective effort at a time, these five villages are demonstrating that true change begins at home.
Meghalaya’s Mawlynnong
Mawlynnong is known as the cleanest village in Asia and is tucked away close to the border between Bangladesh and Meghalaya. But cleanliness is more than simply immaculate streets; it’s a way of life here, supported by an astounding 93.71% literacy rate.
How they accomplished it
A mindset free of plastic: Mawlynnong strictly prohibits the use of plastic. Villagers find ways to reuse plastic rather than letting it accumulate; there is no burning and no release of harmful gases.
Maintaining cleanliness on a daily basis: Here, every villager actively participates in keeping their surroundings clean. They remove all the remaining leaves using teasel brooms.
Sustainable building: To reduce the village’s carbon impact, local building materials are utilized, and every available area is planted with colorful flowers to enhance its organic appeal.
Better sanitation: Mawlynnong prioritized sanitation for everyone by constructing both public and private restrooms to prevent open defecation.
- Madhya Pradesh’s Baghuwar
Baghuwar, located in the Narsinghpur district of Madhya Pradesh, has established a remarkable model for how a village may manage its own sustainability and cleanliness. The locals live a clean lifestyle; they don’t just talk about it. They maintain a clean environment by sweeping the concrete streets every day. Additionally, the hamlet boasts a well-designed subterranean drainage system, which is crucial to maintaining high standards of hygiene.
How they were able to
Providing universal access to restrooms: Baghuwar achieved open defecation-free status (ODF) in 2007, seven years prior to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’s national focus on the issue. The village constructed a communal restroom complex for public events and made sure every home had a toilet.
Participation of the community: Here, everyone shares responsibility for keeping the village tidy. The residents of Baghuwar actively contribute to cleaning initiatives by handling rubbish and constructing infrastructure.
Astute water management: The hamlet made investments in water recycling and rainfall collection rather than only depending on outside supplies. In addition to raising groundwater levels, this has improved the local climate.
The village of Sishunu in Nagaland
A strong community may effect significant change, as seen by Sishunu village in Nagaland. The town sets a high bar for sustainable living because it is not only clean but also free of plastic and smoke. Tobacco products are prohibited here, and plastic garbage is tightly regulated. What’s the best part? Funds from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) helped to make this change possible.
How they were able to
Initiative to eliminate tobacco: Within the hamlet, Sishunu outlawed the sale and use of tobacco products. Schools, workplaces, public spaces, and even bus stops have bans on smoking and chewing tobacco. These regulations are enforced by a Tobacco Control Committee composed of local leaders, law enforcement, and government representatives.
Management and disposal of plastic waste: It is strictly forbidden to use or dispose of plastic in public. This is strictly enforced by the village council, which pushes people to choose sustainable options. They didn’t stop there, either, because plastic waste is now being recycled into roads, which improves infrastructure and lessens plastic pollution. An issue was transformed into a chance!
Kerala’s Thuruthikkara
Thuruthikkara, the first certified green hamlet in Kerala’s Ernakulam district, has established a standard for sustainability. The Oorja Nirmala Haritha Gramam project was a carefully thought-out endeavor that led to this accomplishment, which did not happen overnight.
How they were able to
Raising awareness and educating people: Knowledge is the foundation of sustainability. Through frequent awareness-raising events, the village made sure that all 349 families received education on environmental issues. Long-term water security was ensured by instruction on safe drinking water practices led by experts from the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT).
Sustainable trash management: Thuruthikkara adopted a strategy that does not use plastic, e-waste, or filaments. The hamlet made sustainability a way of life rather than a chore by introducing eco-friendly solutions including kitchen bins for appropriate waste segregation, solar cookers, LED lamps, and biogas plants.
- Assam’s Majuli
Majuli, a stunning island in the Jorhat region of Assam, is renowned for more than just its aesthetic appeal; it is also a leader in cutting-edge sanitation techniques. Majuli’s residents have embraced environmentally friendly habits that reduce their carbon footprint and preserve the natural environment.
How they were able to
Bamboo dwellings constructed for the future: Bamboo is used to build homes in Majuli, not only because it’s a traditional material but also since it’s one of the most environmentally friendly. Bamboo is a great option for an eco-friendly lifestyle because it is resilient, renewable, and requires little energy to create.
A group of people that clean together: In Majuli, cleanliness is a way of life rather than only a habit. The locals actively participate in upkeep of their surroundings; they are frequently observed sweeping and cleaning.
