Sikkim notifies 16 model villages The northeastern state of Sikkim that borders Bhutan, Tibet and Nepal and is home to India’s highest mountain Kangchenjunga has issued a notification, identifying 16 model villages which will need to fully comply with the provisions of the Solid Waste Management Rules of 2016 within six months. “…under direction of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) passed on 1st May, 2019, the following Gram Panchayat Units under Rural Management and Development Department…shall fully comply with the provisions of Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2016 within the next 6 months from the date of order i.e. 1.5.2019,” the notification said. The model Gram Panchayat Units are: Sl. District Block Gram Panchayat Unit 1 Gangtok East Martam Samlik Marchak 2 Martam Martam Nazitam 3 Pakyong East Reghu Lingtam Phadamchen 4 Pakyong Aho Yangtam 5 Chungthang North Chungthang Chungthang 6 Chungthang Shipgyer 7 Mangan North Mangan Ringhim Nampatam 8 Kabi Tingda Navey Shotak 9 Gyalshing West Dentam Dentam 10 Gyalshing Darap Nambu 11 Soreng West Mangalbarey Suldung Kamling 12 Soreng Buriakhop 13 Namchi South Namthang Chuba Phong 14 Sumbuk Mellidara Paiyong 15 Ravangla South Sikkip Wok Omchu 16 Yangang Yangang Rangang The SWM Rules that describe standards of processing and treatment of solid waste for village panchayats of census towns and urban agglomerations can also be applied to all villages. Among the duties and responsibilities outlined in detail are: preparation a solid waste management plan; arrangement for door to door collection of segregated solid waste from all households; setting up of material recovery facilities or secondary storage facilities; training of workers and IEC for public awareness, among others. Sikkim was the first state in the country to have declared its rural areas open defecation free (ODF) way back in 2008. The state government even made it mandatory to have a toilet at home to be eligible for any benefits from the government or to contest in village-level elections. On the other hand, Sikkim’s urban areas took 10 additional years to become ODF on 18th April, 2018, post construction of over 70 public and community toilets as a part of the Swachh Bharat Mission campaign. The state with mountainous terrain has often been referred to as the cleanest in the country and is considered a leader in plastic waste management, having banned non-biodegradable plastic bags and restricting the use of plastic mineral water bottles and food containers made of foam earlier. .