| Litem Eshi ORI |
SILLUK, Aug 16: The grassroots cleanliness initiative Swachh Silluk Abhiyan (SSA) of Silluk village in East Siang district has been conferred with a Gold Medal at the State Awards 2026, recognising its sustained community-led efforts towards cleanliness, scientific waste management and environmental conservation.
The award was announced on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day. The recognition places Swachh Silluk Abhiyan among the two initiatives that received the highest honour under this year’s State Awards. A total of 23 awards were conferred, comprising two Gold Medals, five Silver Medals and 16 Commendation Certificates.
Launched in 2019 under the leadership of Kepang Nong Borang, the initiative has evolved from a village-level cleanliness campaign into a community-driven model of environmental responsibility. Regular cleanliness drives, waste segregation, recycling, composting and active participation of villagers have helped create a culture of collective ownership towards the cleanliness and protection of the village environment.
The Silluk initiative has also earned recognition beyond the state. Its waste-management efforts were featured in the NCERT Class 3 Environmental Studies textbook in 2025, in the chapter “Taking Charge of Waste.” The initiative had earlier received the Naturenomics Award from the Balipara Foundation in 2023.
The Gold Medal is being seen as a recognition not only of the initiative and its leadership but also of the collective efforts of the people of Silluk, whose sustained participation has remained central to its success.
The Silluk experience demonstrates how grassroots leadership and community participation can bring about meaningful and sustainable environmental change without relying solely on large institutions or major investments.
The recognition is a proud moment for East Siang and Arunachal Pradesh and highlights Silluk as an inspiring example of community-led environmental action emerging from the Northeast.