Meghalaya All Set to be the Cleanest State
Running from 17th September to 2nd October, a fortnight-long initiative, led by the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin and Urban Affairs Department, focuses on fostering cleanliness and civic pride all over Meghalaya.
In a country renowned for its rich diversity, one state is about to add another feather to its immaculately scrubbed cap. Yes, dear reader, Meghalaya—the state that already boasts of housing the cleanest village in India, Mawlynnong—is all set to elevate its cleanliness credentials yet again. With a spring in its step and a broom in hand, Meghalaya is making a bid to become one of India’s cleanest states, and the launch of the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ campaign on Tuesday is a big sweep in the right direction.
Spearheaded by the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-G) and the Urban Affairs Department, this initiative isn’t just a flash in the pan—it’s a full fortnight of scrubbing, sweeping, and sanitising, all running from 17th September until 2nd October. The theme for this marathon of cleanliness? ‘Swabhav Swachhata – Sanskaar Swachhata.’ Now, if that doesn’t leave you feeling spick and span on the inside, nothing will!
Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, with his broomstick as sharp as his wit, laid down the law at the launch event. His message? Keeping Meghalaya clean isn’t just about aesthetics—although, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a tidy state? It’s about the environment, public health, and good old-fashioned civic responsibility. And in true spirit, it’s about ‘mucking in’—no shirking your duties here, my friends! The Swachh Bharat Mission, originally unveiled by Modi back in 2014, continues to build momentum. However, Dhar made it abundantly clear: public participation is the secret sauce. After all, you can’t expect cleanliness to magically appear like a well-placed tea tray at a garden party, now can you?
The Urban Affairs Department has certainly been getting its hands dirty (well, figuratively), allocating a tidy Rs 5.8 crore for footpath renovations at Iewduh and another Rs 15 crore for a market upgrade. So, if you’re planning a leisurely stroll through the newly scrubbed traditional market, you’ll have separate sections for your veggies, your fish, and even your knickers. Truly, it’s the stuff of daydreams—orderly, categorised, and sparkling clean.
But cleanliness isn’t just for the tourists, mind you. Deputy CM Dhar, ever the visionary, has grand plans to turn Meghalaya into one of India’s top tourist destinations within the next five years. The key? Cleanliness, of course. As anyone will tell you, a polished pub is a busy pub, and a pristine state? Well, that’s sure to have visitors queuing at the gates!
Meanwhile, RM Kurbah, Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills, donned her metaphorical mop and bucket, urging citizens to take the cleanliness pledge to heart. She also took a moment to tip her hat to the true heroes of the hour—the sanitation workers. These unsung champions of the broom are keeping things spick and span, day in and day out. And with 70 snazzy new e-vehicles to ferry household waste to its rightful resting place, the state’s waste management game is already looking rather polished.
The campaign isn’t just a clean-up on aisle three. It’s about fostering pride in cleanliness and turning what might have once been a duty into a joyful way of life. ‘Swachhata Hi Seva 2024’ aims to rally citizens into action, clear those hard-to-reach black spots (not the pirate kind), and, perhaps most importantly, honour the sanitation workers who have been the backbone of this Herculean effort.
Joint Secretary and Mission Director of Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen, JP Lakiang, put it rather succinctly, noting that this initiative isn’t just about sanitation. Oh no, it’s a cultural shift, a complete lifestyle transformation. Think of it as the cleanliness revolution we didn’t know we needed—like switching from tea bags to loose-leaf tea. Once you experience the upgrade, there’s no going back.
And if all that doesn’t get your broom bristling, just remember: public participation is at the heart of this mission. Whether it’s through ‘Cleanliness Target Units’ (those difficult-to-clean corners, we’re looking at you), or simply rolling up your sleeves for some good old-fashioned ‘shramdaan,’ this campaign is a full-on team effort. It’s like being handed a broom and asked to sweep the Queen’s kitchen—it’s an honour, a duty, and dare we say it, a little bit fun too.
So, let’s tip our hats to Meghalaya, where the path to cleanliness is paved with collective action, civic pride, and the undeniable understanding that a clean state is a happy state. After all, cleanliness may be next to godliness, but in Meghalaya, it’s also next to the vegetable stall.
And if they pull it off, we might just have to borrow their blueprint for a nationwide sweep!
Sources : Shillong Times
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