By Ferdinand Rani
SHILLONG:
Separated by borders, united by common beliefs and culture – this is the story of an 11-year-old fight for recognition by people belonging to the Khasi and Jaintia communities in Assam.
Though separated from their kin in Meghalaya by Dima Hasao district of Assam, the tribal communities, mostly in Barak Valley, no longer feel abandoned after their fight for recognition bore fruit with the formation of the Khasi Jaintia Development Council, Barak Valley.
“Ever since the Khasi Jaintia Development Council (KJDC) was declared over a year ago, we have received recognition. Now, it is easier for us to approach the concerned authorities for the welfare of the Khasi, Pnar people living here since we have a platform now,” chairman of the council, Sebastine Pakyntein, said.
“Credit also goes to the Khasi Students’ Union central body and also Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma for advocating our demand for recognition,” Pakyntein said.
Pakyntein, however, rued that the tribal populace is yet to receive full support in terms of development as the state government has sought more time to allocate a separate budget for them.
“We leave it to the wisdom of our Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in this regard. We hope development will come and it will strengthen our community in terms of infrastructure and others,” the KJDC chairman said.
The Khasi-Jaintias of the area are permanent residents of Assam.
“We’ve seen that the state government here has accepted us as its citizens and we are never deprived of any basic amenities such as ration cards, schemes like Indra Awaaz, PMAY and others especially now, under the BJP-led government. The very fact that the KJDC was given implies that they recognise us as permanent citizens of the state,” Pakyntein said.
It may be mentioned that KJDC is operational only outside the district council areas of Assam.
When asked about the reported harassment and step-motherly treatment meted out to the Khasi-Jaintia community in Assam, he clarified that incidents such as these have come down drastically.
“Attacks and harassment against our community which took place a few years ago have now come down drastically ever since we received this recognition,” Pakyntein informed.
He, however, mentioned that there are a few hiccups in some areas but the government, through the district administration, is monitoring all these aspects.
DISPLACEMENT FEARS
With Barak Valley all set to get its second wildlife sanctuary that will spread over an area of 320 sq km between the Barak and Sonai rivers, fear of being displaced looms large amongst the Khasi villages.
There are over a hundred Khasi villages that fall under the proposed sanctuary in Cachar district.
“The decision of the state government may create a huge problem for the Khasi people living in these villages,” the Council leader said.
He informed that the Council has met the Assam chief minister and expressed concerns over the issue. “We were assured that the Khasi community in the Cachar region, especially those living in Barak Valley, will not be affected by this.”
An independent survey conducted by the KJDC has revealed there are 368 villages with a population of 1,28,000 Khasis and Pnars across the Cachar Hills, “whose record is also available with the government.”
When asked about religious or social clashes between different communities in the area, Pakyntein said, “We haven’t faced any problem with regard to religion, trade or commerce,” adding that cultural festivals are being observed without any hindrances.
Pakyntein, however, refused to comment on the sensitive border dispute between Meghalaya and Assam. “This is a political issue between the governments of these two states. We hope that the boundary issue will be resolved soon,” he said.
“As far as the safety and well-being of our people here are concerned, I would like to say that we have the support of the government and we feel safe; we don’t really feel like outsiders here,” he added.