Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh named cleanest district in Northeast India

Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh has been adjudged the cleanest district in Northeast India by the Swachh Survekshan Gramin (SSG)-2018 survey, according to a release on Wednesday.

“Great achievement for Arunachal. I congratulate the people of the state and all who made it possible,” Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu tweeted.

It gives me immense joy to share that #Tawang district has been adjudged the #CleanestDistrict in #NorthEast on basis of #SwachhSurvekshan2018 (Grameen). Great achievement for Arunachal. I congratulate the people of the state and all who made it possible. @swachhbharat @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/1BfQzBxDSr

— Pema Khandu (@PemaKhanduBJP) October 3, 2018

“The Tawang DC and the team of SBM (G) deserves special appreciation in making their district the first ODF district during September last year in the state and making it to the cleanest district a year after, in the entire North East region,” Khandu said while extending his congratulations to the district.

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In September 2017, the district was also declared the first Open Defecation Free (ODF) district in the entire region.

Khandu called upon other districts of the state to take cue from the achievement and commit to keep their districts clean and hygienic.

The SSG-2018 survey was carried out by an independent agency under the Drinking Water and Sanitation Ministry, with effect from August 1 to 31 in 698 districts of the country.

Union Drinking Water and Sanitation Minister Uma Bharti gave away the award to the state in a glittering function in New Delhi on Tuesday, commemorating the 150^th Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the release said.

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The cleanest district award was received by Sentum Yomcha, Mission Director, SBM (G) PHE & WS Department of Arunachal Pradesh on behalf of the state government.

Following the state’s achievement of being the second ODF state in the Northeast on December 31, 2017, after Sikkim, the Swachh Survekshan Gramin (SSG)-2018 was launched on July 25, 2018 by Khandu. The project has boosted the rural population to adopt Individual Household Latrines (IHHL) and strive for hygienic living, according to reports.

(With inputs from agencies)