By Albert Thyrniang
On the last day of 2015 I travelled from Rangblang to Nongstoin in South West and West Khasi Hills. The road is indescribable. It is simply pathetic and terrible. Bumpy and dusty, a mere forty five kilometer takes almost two hours of back breaking experience. This is not the only ‘horse ride’ road in the two districts. In Langrin, Maweit, Nonghyllam and other areas the conditions are the same. Even the Mawkyrwat-Shillong road is narrow, rough and jerky. Though behind the wheel, I could not help pondering as to when will things get better? When will be the new year for the people of the neglected region? More than thirty years ago, as kids we used to merrily go on roof of buses on these roads. Now they are in a worse condition? Who is responsible for this unacceptable backwardness?
I visited my home village, Rangblang in connection with a religious function. In the function present were Langrin legislator Martin Dango and Mawkyrwat MDC Hadrian (also representing the Mawkyrwat MLA) and various officers from the government departments including PWD, PHE. In the function the VIPs and officers were profusely thanked. The reason was obvious! They had made generous contributions. I wished I was given the honour to propose the vote of thanks. I would have also reminded those concerned of the pathetic road just adjacent to the venue of the function. I would have asked as to what happened to the water projects for the village. There are only pipes sans water. I would have asked the Langrin representative as to why the roads in his constituency are so wretched? The tricks politicians play is to help the church and avoid facing questions for their acts of commissions and omissions. Politicians make it a fad to contribute to annual religious assemblies both in Khasi Hills and Garo Hills. The final amounts run into crores of rupees. All are happy while basics amenities for the common people are denied forever.
Before the said function, roads leading to the venue were watered after potholes were filled up with mud. After the function, labourers were seen scraping the mud and black topping was being done. I was curious and wondered as to why the repairs were carried out after the function was over. To my utter surprised it was revealed that the project was supposed to have been executed two years ago. People revealed that there are many more projects that are abandoned half way. The approach road to Namlang locality began two year ago and is more than incomplete. I am sure in paper these works are officially shown as complete with tip top utilization certificates.
One year ago a major road project from Weiloi to Rangblang was sanctioned. However, allegedly the scheme was diverted elsewhere at the behest of the Chief Minister. For a while a student union and other pressure groups protested vehemently with a series of night blockades. One had hoped they would force the government to reinstate the enviable project. But there was no reversal. In all likelihood they were paid off. Now they are in solitude. The Rs 27 crore two lane project was scrapped. Clearly the Chief Minister has no love for South and West Khasi Hills. The 40 km road has probably gone to a place dearer to him. The public representatives remained mute spectators! The people were denied a good road.
Another two lane road from Nongstoin to Wahkaji is in the pipeline. However, even this project too may never see the light of day. The Khasi Student Union (KSU) and other students’ bodies have opposed its execution as they suspect the Centre’s intention in constructing the road is for uranium mining. The government should never pay heed to these noisy and self-interested groups. They are anti-development. No one wants another Byrnihat railway project. After nearly half a century the KSU is now singing a different tune! You have missed the bus.
The most visible backwardness of the West and South Garo Hills is poor road condition and connection. However, the acute lack of development is noticeable in other infrastructural deficiencies. Health centres are dilapidated with neither nurses, doctors nor medicines. LP school buildings are in shambles with high teachers’ absenteeism. Water tanks and pipes are perpetually dry. What is to be done? Who is to blame? The first thought of condemnation is on our MLAs. But hold your triggers.
In an informal and accidental gathering of some enlightened minds a question came up as to which legislative assembly constituency in West and South west Khasi Hills is the most illiterate. Several names were mentioned but finally the consensus was Nongstoin. Shocking but true! For more than 40 years the people of district capital have been sending an HSPDP candidate to the Assembly. They just cast their vote on the Lion (U Sing) symbol on the ballot papers or EVMs while exercising their franchise. The ‘lion’ has been roaring in Nongstoin non-stop ever since Meghalaya came into existence. No speaking ill of the dead but the late Hopingstone Lyngdoh uninterrupted won elections through these ‘angels’ votes who knew nothing but the tiger symbol. He perfectly exploited the border issue, the ‘jaitbynriew’ pride, uranium mining and religious sentiments. The late veteran leader was unconcerned about development. He was honest, of course. He used no money during elections though the same could not be said of his aides who benefited from his MLA-LADs. Hopingstone’s record wins were Nongstoin’s immeasurable loss!
Arriving in Nongstoin in an open pick-up truck, a group of villagers, after shaking the dust that had enveloped them from head to toe, entered a tea stall and were cursing their representatives for their misery when a person interrupted their overzealous conversation. He asked them, ‘Why do you blame,’ your legislators? You yourselves have elected them repeatedly? Why have you done so when they have not given you good roads? The point is driven home. The general public has to be blamed for sorry state in the districts.
I posted some pictures of the dusty and dilapidated Rangblang-Nongstoin road on Facebook. There were quite a few likes though they hate the road. A well-known journalist pointed to it as another reason for me to continue writing. The outcome of her encouragement is this scribble. However, it also made me wonder as to why the print and electronic media seldom report on poor roads, health care, water and electric supply, education especially in rural areas. If the media consciously and systematically report on poor infrastructure in the state the difference will be seen in record time. But perhaps, the politicians are connected to the media. So who will be the mirror and conscience of the society? Has not the media has surrendered its social responsibility?
Who will bail us out of the trouble? Who will bring the ‘acche din’? Justice Markande Katju, former supreme court judge in his article, “My 2016 wish list” published on Scroll on New Year’s day, warned that only people’s revolution against unemployment, price rise, malnourishment, lack of heath care, etc. will save the country. The people of West and South West Khasi Hills have to do the same for better roads, heath care, water supply, electricity connection and education. Until and unless this happens the region will continue to lag behind in all spheres. They need to be aware of their rights. They need to be conscious of the government’s developmental schemes. Public representatives and government’s departments should be taken to task for shoddy, incomplete or no works. One simplest revolutionary idea is the use of the RTI. I taught the formula of this easy but powerful means to a few during my sojourn but whether it will be used or not remains to be seen. People are still skeptical about using this potentially groundbreaking and game changing 2005 act of parliament. Hope individuals and organizations will come forward to revolutionalize the state sooner than later.