How Mawlynnong Makes Itself Different from Other Villages

It is hard to find Meghalaya tour packages that do not consist of a visit to Mawlynnong; the cleanest village in Asia. Being different from most other villages of India has gained this tiny village of Meghalaya respect in the world stage. While visiting this village, most travellers concentrate on scenic beauty.

Indeed, the village is beautiful, but it did not earn this village the respect it gained all over the world. In the following section of this article, we will try to find out the factors that made this village different from others. Check it out before taking the Meghalaya trip in October.

Taking Responsibility

Even though the cleanliness of the village has come into attention in recent decades, villagers are continuing this tradition for centuries. The villagers of this 100+ years old village are worshipers of nature. So, they feel it is their responsibility to keep the nature devoid of any litter. It is a responsibility that every member of the village share across the age barriers.

Dustbins

Most villagers of Mawlynnong believe that the lack of dustbins is the primary reason for littering. While visiting the village, this is the first thing that you will notice. The villagers have placed bamboo dustbins in every nook and corner of the village. No one, not even the residents of the village, is allowed to throw any litter on the ground. The villagers even collect the fallen leaves and dump it into the dustbins. 

Composting

This is another striking factor that makes Mawlynnong different from other villages. The villagers here actively participate in separating and composting the garbage. They collect the degradable waste and keep them in a pit in the forest. In this way, the villagers produce their organic manure which they use in farming.

Plastic and Smoking Not Allowed

While the rest of the country is only discussing the plastic problem, Mawlynnong has taken steps to ban it. You can’t enter the village with a plastic bag with you. It helps the villagers to keep their village clean and free of non-degradable plastic waste. The villagers have also banned smoking in the village premises. So, there’s no chance that you would see a cigarette stub here.

Apart from the consciousness of the common villagers, the village authorities also stay on its toes when it comes to cleanliness. They host awareness programs to spread awareness of global warming and trains the villagers to protect the forests and wild animals. The village is teaching us that a little consciousness can go a long way. The question is, when will we learn?