Shillong, Oct 4: Raksamgre village, under Tikrikilla Block in West Garo Hills District, has been officially declared an ‘ODF Plus Model Village’ as part of the Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2025 Campaign.
The declaration recognises the village’s remarkable community-led initiatives and its fulfillment of essential criteria under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) guidelines, including ODF Sustainability: ensuring open defecation free status is sustained, liquid and Solid Waste Management: proper arrangements for handling waste, Visible Cleanliness: clean surroundings across all hamlets and public areas, No Plastic Dumping in Public Places: strict avoidance of single-use plastics, No Littering of Waste: active community monitoring and discipline in waste management.
Additionally, the village has proactively undertaken several initiatives, including Division into five hamlets for effective management, Adoption of a Five-Year Plan (2025-2029) to sustain cleanliness and green initiatives, Weekly Cleaning Drives every Saturday involving all households, Community contribution and voluntary service for rural development, Plantation of Bauhinia acuminata (Me·gong) and other species for environmental sustainability.
The declaration programme was attended by dignitaries, including the District Coordinator, SBM-G, Block Coordinators, Vice President of GBC-ABDK, and community members.
Speaking on the occasion, the District Coordinator, SBM-G, praised the community’s initiative, stating, “Raksamgre has set a remarkable example of united community participation. This Model Village declaration is a call to sustain and inspire neighbouring villages towards a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future.”
Raksamgre’s achievement serves as a benchmark for other villages in the district and state, demonstrating that with vision, participation, and commitment, rural communities can lead the way in achieving the goals of Swachh Bharat Mission.
