Mawngap celebrates “Green Campaign Day” with a cleaning drive

Following the launch of the Khrawsing Eco Club in the second week of October, the members of the club, in collaboration with NESFAS, the support of the Block Development Officer, Shri P.T. Passah and participation of the residents and shopkeepers of the area conducted a cleaning drive at the Mawngap Stand on the 2nd of October 2015.

The initiative is one of the first few taken to fulfill of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma’s and NESFAS’s joint vision to realize a cleaner and greener Meghalaya. There to participate in the drive also were local headmen and leaders, the Lyngdoh of Mawphlang, Shri.N.K.Lyngdoh and the Fire brigade. of Mawngap who got their hands equally dirty for a good cause.

In his address to the gathering, Shri P.T. Passah expressed his appreciation of the ‘Swachh Bharat’ initiated by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

Chairperson Shri.C.Wanniang, Asst. Engineer, Mylliem C&RD Block introduced the Khrawsing Eco Club which was formally launched on this day. He shared with the audience how the eco club which has been active since the 28th of September has been maintaining cleanliness of the area by cleaning the area every day for 15 minutes. He also announced awards that are to be given out to the cleanest shops in and around the area, an award that will be given annually from now on; the judging for the award started 2 weeks ago.

Lyngdoh of HIma Mawphlang, Shri.N.K.Lyngdoh, in his speech urged the public, especially the shopkeepers to keep the stand clean reminding them that Mawngap once had a reputation for being a clean place and that they need to reclaim that title.

Later, several awards were distributed to shops for maintenance of cleanliness. Award winners include – 1^st – Timai Sunn (Jadoh Stall), 2^nd – Fairlet Challam, 3^rd – Sweety Khyriem.

Shri Carl O Rangad, representing NESFAS, informed the gathering about the upcoming Indigenous Terra Madre 2015, locally known as International Mei-Ramew which will be held in Meghalaya from the 3rd to the 7th of November. In fact, the cleanliness campaign is one of the initiatives take-up in preparation for the event as the state is looking to host over 50 countries and 100 plus Indigenous Peoples from all over the world. Shri Rangad voiced his appreciation for the working of the Eco Club. He Quoted Gandhi, “Cleanliness is next to godliness”advising that the structure of this drive should fall within the lines of Gandhi’s Philosophy. “This Clean and Green Campaign/Drive should go Beyond ITM 2015,” he added.

The gathering also took a moment to take a Pledge according to the Swachh Bharat oath.

Talk of the cleanliness drive at Mawngap  was initiated when NESFAS approached Shri Passah regarding the clean campaign on the 16^th of September 2015 with the aim to make the drive more sustainable and inclusive of the youth.

The Khrawsing Christian College was selected as the driving force of the campaign. The collaboration began with the blessings of the principal of the college, Ms Kharkongor and the Pastor in-charge, Mr Thabah on the 17^th September 2015.  This was followed by an orientation for the students on the 24^th of September facilitated by NESFAS.

The Khrawsing eco-club has pledged 100 hrs of cleaning work starting from the 28^th of September to the 1^st of October 2015 to achieve its goal of a cleaner Mawngap.