Cleanliness has become a habit and a way of life: S Molnom Chief
Source: The Sangai Express / DIO-KPI

Kangpokpi, September 14 2019: Helien Vaiphei, the chief of one of the cleanest villages in Manipur - S Molnom stated that cleanliness has become a habit and a way of life for the residents of the village as kids as young as in the nursery come out to clean the locality every week without fail.

He stated this statement during a visit to the village by a team of officials and staff from the Directorate of Information & Public Relations (DIPR) led by its Joint Director W Phajatombi Devi; Deputy Director HQ L Ashok Kumar; Editor HQ Sagolsem Snehprabha and Editorial board of the Manipur Today Monthly.

Cleanliness has become a habit and a way of life: S Molnom Chief

Located at the foothills of Koubru Mountain under the Saitu Gamphazol Block of Kangpokpi District, S Molnom has set an example of a clean and green village.

The thought of cleanliness has been imbibed in the year 2005-06 under the guidance and leadership of Haokhotinlen Vaiphei (popularly known as Helien Vaiphei), chief cum chairman of the village.

Helien, a special contractor by profession, has inherited the position of the chief from his father.

The cleanliness drive, conducted every Saturday, saw active participation from people from all walks of life.

The officials from DIPR also interacted with the residents on various developmental issues undertaken collectively by the community as a whole over the last decade.

They said that all the village roads are blacktopped and maintained properly, all the expenses being borne by Helien without any Govt support.

Moreover, the households also have access to clean drinking water and a proper drainage system including hygienic toilets.

The village has a proper waste management system using concrete dustbins with detachable metal bins for easy disposal of waste.

Two large pits were dugged to dispose bio-degradable and non-biodegradable waste separately.

The biodegradable waste is later converted into compost to be used in the kitchen gardens and greenhouses.

It is a small village, predominately inhabited by the Kuki tribe, with over 200 people living in 40 households.

The village has also one primary school namly S Molnom UJB School.

It is said that the village and its headman was recognized and rewarded by the District Administration in 2014 and 2016 for its cleanliness drive.