Shillong, Mar 3: In another shot in its arm, the “Asia’s cleanest village” Mawlyngnong has drawn applaud from leading and popular industrialist Anand Mahindra for the community initiatives in the village.
The Mahindra Group chairman, who is an active social media user with a huge following, has described the village as a powerful example of how collective action can drive real change in India.
In a recent social media post, Mahindra invoked the proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child,” calling it a reminder that responsibility “is never individual; it belongs to the community.”
Referring to Mawlynnong, he said the idea of shared responsibility is not a slogan there, but a way of life.
“In Mawlynnong, Meghalaya, that idea shapes daily life. For the inhabitants of Asia’s cleanest village, cleanliness isn’t a campaign. It’s culture; rooted in shared duty, respect for nature, and collective dignity,” he wrote.
Mahindra stressed that India’s transformation cannot be achieved through messaging alone.
“If India is to transform its image it won’t happen through slogans alone. It will happen when we truly understand the proverb’s meaning: change begins when everyone participates,” he added.
Calling the residents of Mawlynnong his #MondayMotivation, Mahindra said the village stands as a role model for the rest of the country.
Mawlynnong in East Khasi Hills district has long been recognised for its community-led cleanliness practices, use of bamboo dustbins, strict waste segregation, and strong social norms that prioritise environmental care.
For Meghalaya, the endorsement from one of India’s leading industrialists reinforces Mawlynnong’s standing as not just a tourism icon, but a living model of collective governance and environmental stewardship.
