The cleanest village in Asia in India

India is a country with a poor reputation for hygiene, which makes Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi determined to build a national program to address this embarrassing situation in the "super clean" pattern of Mawlynnong village.

Located in the East Indies region, Mawlynnong village is known for its cleanup and rituals, which are all strictly followed by people, from small children to old people. Only more than 600 residents, Mawlynnong was declared the cleanest Asian village in 2003 and India's cleanest in 2005 by Indian Discovery magazine.

Recently, in a radio program in 2015, Prime Minister Modi recognized Mawlynnong as the cleanest village of Meghalaya region and a model for the rest of the country. In May 2016, he stressed, this is "the cleanest village in Asia" at a ceremony to commemorate the achievements of the government.

A woman is sweeping garbage into a funnel-shaped garbage basket in Mawlynnong village.(Photo: Tanveer Badal).

To find out how to model this, BBC correspondent Kelly Phillips Badal went to Mawlynnong village. The answer seems very simple, start as soon as possible.

Deity Bakordor, 11 years old, starts the day at 6:30 am. Her cleaning work is shared with other children in the village and this is really a beautiful sight. Holding brooms in their hands, the children together scanned village roads, collecting fallen leaves and garbage before going to school.

These children are also responsible for garbage disposal. Hand-made funnel-shaped garbage baskets are scattered in the village. The leaves and biodegradable waste are buried in the ground (later used as fertilizer), the rest is taken away from the village and burned. In the village there are also dedicated gardeners, thanks to which the walking paths with trees and flowers are preserved, creating a very comfortable space and integrating with nature.

Even the trash in Mawlynnong is very aesthetic.(Photo: Tanveer Badal).

Kelly asked Bakordor if she was happy to live in such a clean place. She nodded shyly and said if there was a guest throwing garbage on the ground, she would not say anything but would pick up the garbage.

Bakordor explained, cleaning is a normal daily task for both children and adults in Mawlynnong. On Saturdays, when there is an order from the village chief, the work will generate more and everyone is excited to complete the "social work" for the benefit of the village. Cleanliness is deeply embedded in the life here.

Kelly peeked into the family's simple outdoor cooking area to see the results of these efforts. The grandmother of Bakordor, Hosana, lifted the curtains that led to their two-story house, the floors were polished and the dishes glistened, and the blankets were neatly folded.

No one knows where this habit comes from, but according to Kelly's guide, Shishir Adhikari, it is likely to stem from an outbreak of cholera more than 130 years ago. Good hygiene is encouraged to prevent the spread of disease. The first Christian missionaries also helped and encouraged this work to continue.

The villagers are also Khasi, a traditional matriarchal society. Perhaps, where women play a dominant role in society, cleaning up the house and cleaning the environment are also more important, Kelly and Adhikari speculate.

"We have been companions for more than 100 years, and cleaning is what we learned from older people first," said housewife Sara Kharrymba. "We mastered all these skills, from me to descendants."

In other words, this is not a habit, this is a long tradition. Kharrymba's day begins with cleaning all around.

Sanjanai Kharrymba, 6, played on a recycled swing at the doorstep.(Photo: Tanveer Badal).

While the reporter talked, Kharrymba smiled at his 6-year-old daughter, Sanjanai, who was swaying on a swing made of plastic waste bags. What to do with plastic waste is still a big question, because burning it will be very toxic. Often these materials will be reused in this village, reinforced with other materials to create a baby swing."My children know this is different," Kharrymba said.

Her children have never left the village "sometimes visitors come here to stay and they talk," Kharrymba added. She talked about how each of the houses in the village had a separate toilet, a major goal of the "Clean Up India" program, and how well her children complied with good hygiene procedures.

Pausing for a moment, Kharrymba looked at the small clear pond - his fortune, and said: "I am very proud to live here."