By Biplab Kr Dey
TURA, May 6: Meet Brethalina Marak, the Nokma of Sillanggre village, who has the aspirations of over 100 households over her head in her fight for an identity for her locality that has been in existence since before the birth of the state.
However, despite most residents being below poverty levels, they have continued to be deprived of government benefits.
The story of Sillanggre goes as such. It was before the year 1968 when the first settlers in the locality came. From being an area of just 2-3 households, the locality now comprises over 100 households and has at least 354 voters and a population of over 800, including children and youths. It falls under the South Tura constituency represented by none other than Chief Minister Conrad Sangma himself.
Despite the growth in numbers and various pleas from residents of the locality, the village continues to be off the map – even after recognition from the GHADC of being a separate locality in the town of Tura.
“The only time we come to the notice of those in authority is when it comes to vote. At that time, people come to our locality to find out what ails us and what we need. This drama has continued since we can remember. We just feel so hopeless about the situation and how everyone just does not care,” said the Nokma.
What is interesting is that government benefits, despite the presence of 354 voters, have eluded all residents of the locality.
“The only card we have is a BPL ration card and that too only a handful of us have been given this. We have not got free electricity connection, no government toilets, no houses. There is nothing to prove that we are even residents of the Union of India, except for our Voter IDs. The Election Commission has recognised our locality but the state government just wants to do away with us. We are non-existent to them,” felt the Nokma.
Getting to Sillanggre earlier would have been a herculean task earlier as road connectivity was non-existent. The drive even now is fraught with danger mainly due to an extremely steep incline. To get to the village, you need to take the road going to Sasan Ghat and continue for about 2 kms until you get to the steep incline. Once you get to the incline, you know you have arrived.
“We have had only about 2-3 government job holders though they have already retired. Almost all of us are roadside vegetable vendors, daily wagers, masons, electricians. We have had a hand to mouth existence since we can remember and these government benefits could have gone a long way into giving us some comfort,” said 44-year-old Cicilia S Sangma, a mother of five children.
The first Nokma of the village, Najang Ch Marak, was appointed Nokma in the year 1968, four years before the attainment of statehood in 1972. He remained Nokma until his death. He was the first to begin the fight for recognition of the village and was able to get the GHADC’s assent in the year 1992. He passed away soon after.
Following his death, Tillport T Sangma became the Nokma of the place in 1998 and upon his passing, Kependro Sangma was given the mantle.
John N Marak took over as the temporary caretaker of the village following the death of Kependro. He was not too keen and left the charge of the village. Brithalina was chosen as the Nokma of the village in 2016 and has continued the fight for recognition ever since.
“We are all tired and hopeless in this fight as despite being residents of the state and this locality since ages, we are yet to get recognised as a village. Despite being recognised by the ECI, we simply are being ignored by our state. There are no welfare benefits, including water, electricity, houses or toilets for any of us,” informed Brithalina.
As per the villagers, they were always given hope that recognition would come.
“We remember PA Sangma’s words when he had come to meet us prior to voting many years ago. He had said that recognising our locality would be his first priority. That it seems was only to get our votes as after that he never came or contacted us until his demise. Imagine another politician referring to us as refugees despite us all being born and raised in Garo Hills,” added 44-year-old mason, Clement R Marak.
In 1992, after formally being recognised by the GHADC as a separate locality, advertisements were put on the Shillong Times and Salantini Janera as proof. These paper clips have been preserved by the Nokma as proof, including a map of the locality as was drawn by the GHADC in the same year.
“We were extremely happy that the efforts of everyone were about to bear fruit but imagine our disappointment when despite our best efforts, no form of government support came our way even till this day,” added Brethalina.
The entire locality has been struggling for existence in the absence of support with most living hand to mouth, within the town of Tura.
Most houses of the locality are made of tin and bamboo walls, barring a few exceptions. They all looked like they would benefit tremendously given support from the government. There are only a few watering holes in the locality and daily fights over water are common.
The villagers informed that till date, despite them being a part of Tura’s landscape over a generation, no water connections have been issued to them, not even on a humanitarian basis. What is more is that during recent storms in their locality, which saw their kutcha houses being blown away, officials from the administration as well as the TMB came to conduct a survey.
“We were assured that we could rebuild with the compensation provided. Our names were taken down but we saw nothing come to us. There was no explanation given and all our attempts to understand why were met with a blank face,” said another resident, LIna N Sangma.
Lina has been a resident of the locality since 1994.
In an effort to help them get their locality an identity, the residents also approached the Tura MDC, Bernard Marak. Initially, he felt the locality could be on government land and thus the issue of the area not being recognised.
“We found out through an RTI that we were all legitimate and the land belonged to our Aking. He took up the fight to get us recognised but till now that has not happened. We have supported him wholeheartedly and he has been the only one who has been fighting to get us what we desperately need,” said another resident.
Social activist, Jaynie Sangma, who was also part of the visit felt what has happened with the people of the locality and how they have been shunted out of a system that is there for everyone was not only shameful but showed the entire state in poor light.
“They are human beings and the state or central government cannot shun away from their responsibility to provide for them. They face extreme hardships on a daily basis despite which they continue to fight. Can a government shun its responsibility in providing for them when it is well aware that they exist and have voted for them?,” asked Jaynie.
Interestingly, some of the residents, who were supporters of the present leadership, were ones that benefited from the MLA schemes. They got three bundles of tins but that is where the welfare for them ended.
“We are legitimate residents of Meghalaya and have the same rights as others. All we demand is that our pain gives us what is our rightful due – recognition,” said 38-year-old Anju D Sangma, who was born in the locality. Anju is amongst the very few who has a BPL ration card.
“What is interesting is that they have been picked up on the election survey and IDs have been issued both by the state and the Centre to recognise Sillanggre as a separate area in Tura. As to why the area and its people are not being recognised is beyond understanding. Everyone should stop playing politics with people’s lives. They are without question Meghalaya residents and need to be recognized as such,” felt Jaynie.
Upon being contacted on the matter, Deputy Commissioner, Jagdish Chelani, immediately called for an inquiry to be made into the matter.
The inquiry was led by an officer of the rank of Assistant Commissioner with a visit being paid by the team on Friday. The finding of the inquiry is yet to be revealed.
“It’s highly improbable that they have been left out given that their names are in the census. There should have at least been toilets given to them. If they have been left out, we will take up the matter and see what can be done from the end of the district administration. Whatever else remains will be put forward to the state for further action,” the DC said.
The villagers, after the visit by the Assistant Commissioner have now expressed hope that their long-pending demand for recognition may come to fruition in the near future.
Until that happens, they will continue to live in hope for a better life.