Shillong: Four village heads from Meghalaya have been invited, along with their spouses, as Special Guests to attend the Independence Day Ceremony 2025 at the Red Fort, New Delhi, on 15 August. They were chosen under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G) for their outstanding contributions to cleanliness, sanitation, and sustainable water and waste management.
Representing the state this year are:
Leverius Dkhar, Chairman, Village Water and Sanitation Committee (VWSC), Laitmynsaw, Mylliem Block, East Khasi Hills
Krin Dkhar, Lumshken, Khliehriat Block, East Jaintia Hills
Cacino Marak, village head, Aminda Rangsagre, West Garo Hills
Almen D. Shira, Williamnagar, Chachatgre, East Garo Hills
The selected leaders have played a key role in leading their villages to achieve Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus status under SBM-G and implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to ensure safe drinking water for every household.
Speaking about the achievement, Leverius Dkhar said, “The JJM has greatly improved our water supply… this recognition is the result of hard work by our community, the PHE Department, and the government.” Laitmynsaw has also won Mylliem Block’s cleanliness award under SBM-G.
For Krin Dkhar, the selection marks his first visit to Delhi. He recalled how the JJM transformed his village from fetching water in forests to having household connections with clean water from natural sources.
Cacino Marak shared that his village not only achieved sanitation targets but also set up a plastic waste management unit, improved community toilets, and installed biogas plants and composting units, earning ODF Plus Model Village recognition in 2022.
Introduced in 2019, the ODF Plus Model Village status requires sustainable sanitation practices, solid and liquid waste management, and 100% coverage backed by audits and certification. These initiatives have improved community health, tourism potential, and eco-friendly livelihoods in the villages.