Itanagar: It is a great example of good governance but does not involve bureaucracy!   

A remote village in Longding district is catching eyeballs for its model of clean and sustainable living. The village bagged CM's Award For Cleanest Village-2023 recently. 

As a prize, Rs 50,000 cheque was given away to the village by Governor Lt General KT Parnaik and Chief Minister Pema Khandu in a state function. The village is aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Swachh Bharat Mission.

To put things in place for cleanliness, under the leadership of young and passionate Gram Panchayat Chairman (GPC) Wangjem Wangsu, the village residents have formed a 50-member 'Cleanliness Committee' which ensures that social service and cleanliness activities are carried out every weekend.

In a unique method to promote sustainable living, the villagers observe 'Dustbin Day' under which each family makes two bamboo dustbins. One cannot find polybags, disposables in the village.

While one dustbin is donated to the Committee, the other is installed in the house. As one enters the village, in addition to the lush green valleys, one can see several locally made bamboo dustbins in the village.

Arunachal Pradesh has a rich resource of bamboo and the Centre has changed colonial laws and freed the grass from the Forest Act. Now farmers can cultivate, add value and sell their bamboo produce.

Ozakho village has several feathers in its cap. It is the first village to get 100 per cent Covid vaccination in the Longding district. It has also achieved the feat of being the first village with 100 per cent tap water connection under Jal Jeevan Mission and it is also completed covered under Chief Minister Arogya Arunachal Yojana.

The villagers have banned hunting, poaching of animals and unsustainable fishing through bombing and use of generators. Felling of trees is also prohibited for commercial purposes. The villagers have decided that if anyone cuts a tree for personal use, he has to plant two saplings as an act of nurturing nature.

The village is a true example of living in harmony with nature. /BI/