Haflong, Jan. 27: Two villages, Zion and Kubing, have been adjudged the cleanest in Dima Hasao district of Assam under the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin programme.

At the state-level, Zion was adjudged second while Kubing was ranked 15th under the programme. Rangchaipara, a village in Goalpara district, has been ranked first in Assam, while Chikadamokha in Karbi Anglong has been ranked third.

The rankings were announced during the 68th Republic Day celebrations at N.L. Daulagapu sports complex here yesterday.

A cash prize of Rs 1 lakh was awarded to Paliyan Hrangkhol, chief of Zion village, by chief executive member of North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council Debolal Gorlosa at the function.

Inhabited by people from the Hrangkhol community, Zion, in Dollong constituency, is 6km from this town. The village has 101 households with a population of 600.

"We have always tried to keep our village clean as we believe that cleanliness is next to godliness. We are very happy that our village has been recognised as the cleanest village. I thank the public health engineering department of our district for its help without which it would have not been possible to bag the award. The department has allotted free toilets to our village," Hrangkhol told The Telegraph.

Lokman Ali, executive engineer of the department and member-secretary of the district water and sanitation committee, said, "We are happy that two of our villages have been ranked among the cleanest at the state level. We hope that our district will bag top honours next time."

"The state government will give Rs 2.5 lakh to Zion," Ali said.