Mawlynnong, a small village in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills, remains “Asia’s Cleanest Village,” championing community-led sustainability and zero-waste living.
Prime Minister Modi has hailed the settlement as a national model for environmental excellence and hygiene.
A Daily Ritual of Collective Responsibility
In this picturesque settlement of approximately 900 people, cleanliness is far more than a government mandate; it is a deeply ingrained cultural identity passed through generations. The day begins at 6:30 am when children, equipped with teasel brooms, take to the streets to sweep away dead leaves and debris before their school day commences.
This ritual is supported by the strategic placement of hand-woven, cone-shaped bamboo baskets known as “khoh,” which line every street to ensure no litter touches the ground. The village operates on a zero-plastic philosophy, where single-use materials are strictly discouraged and replaced with reusable alternatives like cloth bags and bamboo containers.
Waste management is meticulous: organic waste is converted into compost for gardens, while non-biodegradable items are collected and driven far from the village for disposal. Resident Sara Kharrymba captures this ethos perfectly, stating, “We are Christians from more than 100 years back, and cleaning is learned from our elders.
We pass on these skills, from me to my children, from them to their children.” This commitment extends into the private sphere, with every household maintaining a functioning toilet, a standard the village achieved long before it became a national priority under the “Clean India Mission.”
Walking through the village, visitors see villagers tending to their vibrant gardens and sweeping public paths without being prompted, demonstrating a self-sustaining model of civic pride that humanises the abstract concept of environmentalism.
Ancestral Roots and the Challenge of Modernity
The origins of Mawlynnong’s extraordinary discipline are thought to be rooted in a survival strategy following a devastating cholera outbreak 130 years ago, where hygiene was encouraged by elders and missionaries to control the spread of disease. This history of resilience is further bolstered by the Khasi tribe’s matrilineal social structure, where lineage and inheritance pass through women.
This system promotes significant social stability and financial independence, which many believe contributes to the orderly and respectful maintenance of the environment. However, recent updates from October 2025 reveal that the village is facing significant modern pressures.
The influx of tourism-now serviced by 34 local homestays-while economically beneficial, has begun to strain the village’s delicate infrastructure and peace. Furthermore, the community is on the frontlines of climate change, experiencing unpredictable weather patterns, soil erosion, and flash floods that threaten the iconic “Living Root Bridges”-organic structures grown from rubber tree roots over centuries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a significant official statement, acknowledged the village as “Asia’s cleanest village” and a beacon for the national Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, urging the rest of the country to follow their lead.
Despite this fame, the village must now navigate “cultural erosion” as younger generations are drawn to urban lifestyles, potentially distancing them from the traditional eco-conscious values that made their home a global legend.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we view the story of Mawlynnong as a profound testament to the power of community-led stewardship. It serves as a reminder that the most effective solutions to our global climate crisis are often found at the grassroots level, rooted in empathy, kindness, and a shared sense of responsibility.
By treating their entire village as a sanctuary, the Khasi people show us that living in harmony with nature is not an impossible luxury but a rhythmic, daily choice.
Their success is a challenge to the rest of the world: sustainability does not require complex technology, but a shift in mindset-from seeing the Earth as a resource to seeing it as a home.
We must support such models by being mindful travellers, choosing local homestays over commercial chains, and respecting the quiet dignity of communities that have mastered the art of coexistence.
Mawlynnong proves that when we act with peace and purpose, we can create a world that is not only cleaner but kinder.
