By Lamphrang Nongspung
SAW SYMPER: People or 15 villages under Raid Saw Symper in Mawsynram have stated their preference to remain with East Khasi Hills instead of the newly-created South-West Khasi Hills. They made this known at the public hearing conducted by the State Government on Friday.
Although the district headquarters (Shillong) is 60 Km away from the area the villagers prefer to be part of East Khasi Hills. Considering that Mawkyrwat, the new district headquarter, is only 20 kms away, many feel that the villagers might have been politically enticed.
The choice made by the majority of the villagers in fact defeats the very objective of the Government in creating the new district for bribing governance closer to the people.
This decision of remaining with the East Khasi Hills, is, however, not a unanimous one since there are a section of villagers who want to be part of the newly created district.
The public hearing was called after the Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising of traditional heads and NGOs had submitted a joint petition to the Government on June 26 last informing that there are a large sections of the people who are not in favour of the newly created district.
During the public hearing, it was found that majority of the Rangbah Shnong have opted to remain with East Khasi Hills.
It was also seen that out of the 15 villages, the Rangbah Shnong of the 12 villages also submitted a written representation with signatures of the villager of their respected villages to support their claim of their keenness to remain in the same district.
The Rangbah Shnong had argued that they would like to remain with East Khasi Hills since they have been a part of the district since 1998.
With the Mawsynram Community and Rural Development office only 8 km away, they also argued that the people would not have to travel long distance for any minor official work.
“This would not be the case if they associated themselves with new district. As you are aware that Mawkyrwat is 20 km away from here,” they argued.
On the other hand, the groups that are eager to be part of South West Khasi Hills are of the view that being a part of the new district, would bring huge benefits
“At present, the villagers have to travel around 120 Km to and from Shillong for any official work. The travel expenses of the people would reduce drastically if they join the new district since Mawkyrwat is only about 20 km away from Saw Symper,” they said.
With Saw Symper being the gateway to Mawkyrwat, they said that the villages in the areas would be largely benefitted with various development schemes.
Even in terms of employment, they feel that that the young and educated of the area would have more opportunity since they would no longer need to compete with people from Shillong for any vacancies in the District Selection Committee (DSC).
Meanwhile, they also feel that this public hearing is being held at very wrong time since Assembly election is round the corner.
They further alleged that the villagers have been persuade by a strong political lobby who are simply concerned about their vote bank. “If this public hearing is being held later there are strong possibilities that majority of the villages would want to be part and parcel of the newly created district,” they said.
Meanwhile, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal, who presided over the public hearing, said that he would submit the report to the State Government on the outcome of the public hearing.
“You may have seen that majority of the villages still want to remain with East Khasi Hills,” Goyal later said.
He, however, informed that they have conducted the public hearing after the Government recently receiving a joint petition from the JAC who express their eagerness to be part and parcel of the new district.
“So far no areas from East Khasi Hills have been realigned with South West Khasi Hills. As of now, all the areas which are part of the new district has been carved out of West Khasi Hills,” Goyal said
It may be mentioned that Chief Minister will be inaugurating the new South West Khasi Hills at Mawkyrwat on August 3.