Mingkeng osik

Mebo. Jun 22: In a historic achievement for Arunachal Pradesh, Silluk Village has been featured in the NCERT CBSE Class 3 Environmental Studies (EVS) textbook, Chapter 12 titled “Taking Charge of Waste”. This remarkable inclusion tells the story of a village once buried under waste, now hailed as India’s first government-recognised Zero Waste Village.
Silluk, once mockingly referred to as “Gobar Basti” (Poop Village) due to open cattle rearing and knee-deep waste on its roads, has undergone a dramatic transformation. The turning point came in 2019, when a young and determined local from the Adi tribe, Kepang Nong Borang, said “enough is enough.”
Borang initiated the Swachh Silluk Abhiyan (SSA) — a grassroots campaign to restore dignity, health, and sustainability in the village. What started as a quiet rebellion against unhygienic conditions quickly became a model of civic participation and eco-conscious development.
Today, the story of Silluk’s transformation is reaching classrooms across India, inspiring children to take responsibility for their surroundings and showing that lasting change begins at the community level.
SSA Chairman Kepang Nong Borang shared, “We began this mission in 2019. Since then, we have received three State Awards, and also earned the prestigious 11th Balipara Foundation Award. Silluk is no longer just a clean village — it has also become a blooming tourism spot.”
He further appealed to the government, stating, “Now that Silluk is gaining national attention, it is the right time for authorities to allocate funds and extend support so the village can grow as a model eco-tourism destination.”
This national-level recognition is not just an accolade for Silluk but a matter of pride for all of Arunachal Pradesh. It proves that even the dirtiest path can lead to the cleanest future — when a community unites with vision, courage, and determination.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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