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Residents of 'cleanest village praise Modi

By The Assam Tribune

SHILLONG, Oct 2 (IANS): Khasi tribesmen of Meghalaya's Mawlynnong, often described as one of "the cleanest villages in Asia", Thursday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for launching the Swachh Bharat mission that aimed at creating a 'Clean India' in the next five years.

Governor K.K. Paul launched the Swachh Bharat mission at Polo grounds here by administering a pledge to the denizens. Paul appealed to the people of Meghalaya to clean up the country by cleaning their surroundings.

"We are happy that our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched Swachh Bharat mission as cleanliness is very important in human life," Thomlin Khongthohrem, headman of Mawlynnong, told IANS.

Like in the rest of India, the residents of this village located in East Khasi Hills four km from the Bangladesh border, also participated in the campaign.

"We usually clean our village (Mawlynnong village) every Saturday. But today the villagers also cleaned up the village as part of the launching of the Clean India mission," Khongthohrem said.

Mawlynnong, which means "a cluster of stones" in the local Khasi dialect, is referred to as "God's own garden".

"We have learnt about cleanliness from our childhood and, therefore, I am sure the people of Mawlynnong will continue to maintain this benchmark," he added.

"People who visit us speak about our clean village when they go home, but what is important for them is to follow us in maintaining their surroundings and homes clean since cleanliness begins at home," Khongthohrem said.

Meanwhile, several localities in Shillong also celebrated Gandhi Jayanti by cleaning their respective areas.

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