By Aiborlang Nongsiej
Apropos to the Patricia Mukhim’s article ‘When Periphery strikes’ (ST June 8, 2018), being an educated person from the District I would like to pen down the feelings of the people after reading the article. Certainly I don’t deny that people from West are materially poor but to say that West Khasi Hills (WKH) district is the most backward district in Meghalaya is totally wrong and unacceptable. According to the 2011 census the literacy rate of West Khasi Hills is second only to East Khasi Hills district at 78.5 and 84.15 respectively. In my conversation with some of the staff of the Shillong secretariat, they say that most Heads of Departments are from WKH. The reason is that people from rural areas work harder and achieve their dreams in life. In terms of sports, Beningstar Lyngkhoi from South West Khasi Hills is recognized as one of the star runners in the state and in the National level. He represents the country even internationally. Thus, I wonder what the writer meant by saying that West Khasi Hills is the most backward district in Meghalaya.
Having said that, I do agree with the writer that most of the young boys who participated in the stone pelting are from WKH. However, I do not agree with the abusive vocabulary used in the heading of the article like the term ‘Periphery’ which according to the Oxford Dictionary means ‘less important.’ The question here is, whether West Khasi Hills contributes nothing to the state? Are people from West Khasi Hills less intelligent than the others? Why people from West are periphery? On the other hand, if West Khasi Hills is the most backward district as stated in the article, why not the writer advise or suggest the Conrad government to send more educational schemes and many other developmental schemes in order to help the district not to remain backward perpetually and to progress as like other districts in the state. At the same time I am happy to know that Ranikor block which is in South West is going to be upgraded to Civil-sub division in the coming days as was announced by the Conrad government recently. But again the question whether this is only a political game or for genuinely developing the district? Therefore, I request the Government that if West Khasi Hills is the most backward district in the state then the MLAs from the district must stand united to fight for the growth and development of the district in most of the fields such as education, sports, and tourism.
For the benefit of readers, WKH is one of the blessed districts with good tourist spots such as Hot spring in Jakrem, Nongkhnum in Nongstoin, Wah Rilang in Mawranglang, Kyllang Rock in Mawchut (Mairang) and Mawtynhiang cave in Nongnah South West (which was recently opened by the DC of South West Khasi Hills). However, sad to say that the Government paid no attention to develop these tourist spots in West and South West districts and as a result tourists are not attracted to visit such places. Personally I feel that though the area is blessed with natural beauty but due to lack of interest of the Government and the Tourism Department the gift of nature is wasted and the people in the district remained poor materially. Again I do agree that people of WKH are poor but I don’t agree with the word backwardness. In fact, in one of the report by the local news channel of Meghalaya, Nongnah village in South West is known as the most beautiful tableland in Meghalaya. On the other hand, neither the Government nor the Tourism Department is interested in developing this beautiful village. This is the simple example why people in the WKH suffer from poverty. Hence, in order to fight against poverty the government must develop those tourist centres to attract more tourists in to these places. Only then can people from the region be gainfully employed and those with business acumen can benefit if tourist centres are well maintained by the Government and the Tourism Department.
Having stated that, people from WKH are suffering from poverty, yet I do not agree with the writer that those youngsters from the West are paid in order to take part in stone pelting in the city. It might be for a few, but not to all. Therefore to generalize that all youngsters from the West are paid to create chaos in the city is totally wrong and unacceptable. According to the SP of East Khasi Hills, most of the people caught in this incident are paid, but sad to say that because of a few all are accused of being paid. First and foremost, the writer and the government must know why people from the WKH participated in stone pelting and created chaos in the city. According to my information the Them Metor of Shillong is the thoroughfare for the people of WKH. Most of the buses and Sumo stations are located in this particular commercial place. As a result, I have heard from several individuals that few years back people from WKH are afraid of walking alone through this place especially when it is early morning or late in the evening. The area is not safe and secure since the residents are not local.
Added to that, most of the bus drivers and handymen of the government buses in Shillong (known as Red Bus) are from WKH and as a show of solidarity with the Bus driver and the handyman who were beaten up by the non-local at Them Metor all of them called for a strike. However, to say that they are paid for stone pelting, to create chaos in the city, and they are coming from the backward district of Meghalaya is totally wrong and baseless. Therefore, all these problems added more fuel to the fire and provoked the people of WKH to fight for their rights in their own land and personally I believe that this is the main cause why people of WKH were involved in protests in those crucial days.
Lastly, I have written this article not to pinpoint at anyone but to convey the views of the people of my district. Also to clarify the wrong information that people from WKH are paid to create problems in the city. Moreover, the writer had wrongly affirmed that West Khasi Hills is the most backward district in Meghalaya which it is not. I request the writer who is probably unaware of the problems faced by the people from WKH while passing through Them Metor especially in the early morning and late evening hours in order to know the reality and not simply pen down whatever information comes from the media and the District authorities, particularly the Police.