Habitat ... And Some Positive Stories That Came Our Way

Clean as a whistle

Habitat

"God's own garden" is a little village, at an altitude of around 5,000 feet in the East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya. Known to be the cleanest village in India, Mawlynnong's stars are its 500 residents. Every morning, a team of women, deputed to sweep the walkways and common areas, emerge, armed with the trademark cone-shaped wicker baskets and broomsticks.

On Saturdays, the entire village comes together to clean the lanes--now essential, as tourism is booming. People from across India travel to this hamlet, to marvel at its beauty, yes, but also admire its cleanliness. Even the water bodies, where the villagers wash clothes, are pristine and crystal clear. There is a wicker basket for trash disposal every 50 feet and a recycling programme is also in place. Mawlynnong also has a 100 per cent literacy rate. Here's hoping we can draw inspiration and create an Eden in our surroundings.

All in it

Community

An art and community engagement programme, Chaan-Daar, is changing public spaces in the slums of Yerawada area in Pune. Homes are painted in bright colours and decorated with beautiful art and rangoli by artists and residents. The initiative, taken up by the Pune Biennale Foundation and Panchshil Foundation, aims at improving the environment across three more clusters in the city. Inaugurated in December 2017, the project, its official website says, "is based on the idea of 'sundarta se swachta ki oor'" and 'Chaan-Daar' is a "metaphorical opening of minds towards beautiful and clean living environment".

A happy reunion

Rescue

Officers from the Mettupalayam Forest Department reunited a baby elephant stuck in a canal in Nellimala, Ooty, Tamil Nadu, with its mother. The mother had been attacking vehicles and civilians trying to enter the area where the calf was stuck. The officers then rescued the baby, pulling it out gently from the bog. Weak and exhausted, it was unable to move, so the officers fed it glucose, coconut water and Lactogen till the mother returned two days later.