From Chean Marak, Sannio Siangshai & Kynsai Sangriang
TURA/ JOWAI/ MAWKYRWAT: Four new districts were formed in the state in 2012 with an aim to bring development on track. But five years on, the ground reality remains different.
With no infrastructure and elusive welfare schemes, the move to break existing districts into pieces at the cost of crores of rupees now seemed to have been done for political gains.
The Shillong Times spoke to administration heads, police officials and the common man in these districts to assess the ground reality.
As far as North and South West Garo Hills are concerned, there is difference in opinion. While a section said the move to create new districts was a sham others, which definitely include district officials, felt that the move was a step forward in bringing change and development in the region.
While the new district of North Garo Hills was carved out of East Garo Hills in July 2012, South West Garo Hills was created from West Garo Hills in August of the same year.
North Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner SC Sadhu said the DC office was now functioning from the new office building constructed recently.
According to the DC, many line departments have also begun functioning separately from East Garo Hills.
Sadhu informed that since the creation of the new district, integrated residential buildings have also been built. However, Sadhu informed that the office of the superintendent of police is still functioning from the old sub-divisional office.
When asked if new buildings were constructed to accommodate new officers appointed in the district, Sadhu said construction is in progress.
The DC, however, did not quote the amount incurred per year to run the district saying it would take time as necessary information from all concerned departments would have to be collected first.
To a question whether the creation of the district was at all necessary, the DC was amused and said considering the distance it was required and that people were happy.
Meanwhile, there are certain individuals who claim that there has been no change in their lives since the old sub-division was upgraded to a district.
“How can we say that our lives have been made better when road conditions, education and health scenario remain the same? I personally feel that better infrastructure facilities should have been provided to the district by now,” said a resident from Resubelpara who did not wish to be named.
However, there are others who feel that the creation of the district has been all for good. According to them, though infrastructure development has been slow for now the new district will witness a sea change in the coming years.
The deputy commissioner of South West Garo Hills, Cyril Deingdoh, said many offices have come up in the new districts and people will benefit in the long run.
However, a police official said many facilities are yet to be made available to the office of the SP in Ampati and the strength of the district police force needs to be augmented.
East Jaintia Hills (2,115 sq km), the newly created mineral-rich district inhabited mostly by the Pnars and the Wars besides the Biates, the Hmar, the Garo and few Karbis, are still lagging behind in various infrastructure facilities and development activities.
The district was carved out of Jaintia Hills district on July 31, 2012. It has sent two representatives to the Assembly and nine representatives to the Jaintia Hills District Council (JHADC).
The deputy commissioner’s office is still functioning from the old Civil Sub-Division Office. The Office of the Khliehriat C&RD block is yet to be shifted to Wapungskur though the foundation stone was laid by then C&RD minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on April 23.
Offices of heads of various departments, including those of the DH&MO, the PWD superintending of engineer, social welfare, still function from West Jaintia Hills and require proper infrastructure facilities.
Deputy Commissioner MS Lhuid said the new building for DC office is under construction to accommodate other departments, including supply, excise, housing, revenue, election, treasury, IPR and IT.
The circuit house was renovated and one tourist lodge was also constructed.
Proposal for allotment and acquisition of land for district jail, social welfare department, and JNV School is in process and land for a district court was also allotted.
Sub-divisional level offices for departments of Education, Agriculture, Horticulture, Soil, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, DMHO were being upgraded to district offices.
The new district offices like water resources, district transport office, industries, sports, tourism, urban affairs, social welfare and other department have been established.
“Some departments have quarters and many are yet to be constructed. The creation of the new district was important in order to bring administration closer to people and speed up development,” the Principal of Jaintia East College, Phervision Nongtdu, said.
Police in East Jaintia Hills have the same manpower as that of the erstwhile sub-division.
The government is yet to construct an SP office building and other infrastructure facilities.
South West Khasi Hills was carved out of West Khasi Hills in August 2012.
Former DC Ripnar Lyngdoh said construction of the mini-secretariat is in progress and it is expected to be complete next year.
The office of the Legal Metrology Department is almost complete and construction of the EVM and VVPAT Store House is expected to be complete within this year.
The General Administration Department (GAD) only recently allotted land for the construction of District Treasury office, Water Resource Department, Housing Department, SP office, Police Reserve, District Commerce and Industries Centre, District Medical and Health Office and District Urban Affairs.
The office of the district social welfare officer had also requested for land allotment but it was not allotted.
Mawlangwir village and the Sankur clans have allotted land for the construction of the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) at Mawlangwir while the Sakwang village has allotted land for the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) and the District Institute of Education Training (DIET).
Even after five years, the office of the DC and SP are still functioning from the old sub-divisional offices.
However, the mini-secretariat under construction will be the DC’s office and the government recently allotted land for the SP’s office.
Among the departments, the district got only water resources division and the soil and water conservation division and others are under construction.
According to the residents of Mawkyrwat area, it is difficult to measure the improvement in the lives of the people.
A few residents have pointed out that the creation of the district have helped a lot as the poor people need not go to Nongstoin.
However, several residents pointed out that the development activities in South West Khasi Hills are very slow even after five years.
Most of the government offices are still functioning from rented facilities.
As far as other human development initiatives are concerned, till date, there is only one college in the district.
Sngap Syiem College does not have science stream at the degree level and most importantly the proposed 100-bed civil hospital at Mawkyrwat has not seen the light of the day.