37-Kharkutta is one of the most promising constituencies of North Garo Hills District of Meghalaya in development rich in agriculture, horticulture and allied activities and has rich potential in tourism. It is one of the most ideally situated constituencies in Meghalaya bordering the crisscross intersections of Assam, the major gate to major parts of Garo Hills and bordering West Khasi Hills district. It is in an advantageous position in all aspects as it is blessed with internal road connectivity within the constituency which includes the major highways of Boko to Paikan – Krishnai of Assam – Meghalaya and National Highway-62 Dudnoi – Rongjeng – Nengkhra – Nangalbibra – Baghmara – Dalu. This favourable position of road proximity has enabled the constituency and other parts of the district to facilitate easy transport of men and goods within the constituency, in the district and to the Assam markets and even outside Assam.
As the constituency is rich in agriculture and horticulture its produce are plenty of banana, arecanut, rubber, ginger, black pepper, pineapples, broomstick, jackfruit, mango, tapioca, yam, some scale of oranges, guavas, litchi, chillies, Jingga, lufus, pumpkins, vegetables, various species of rice including sticky rice and aromatic rice or Jaha and so many agricultural and horticultural crops. In fact so many food processing units like in banana chips, banana honey, banana wine in Chilpara village, honey farming and honey-banana food products like wine, chips, pakawra and so many blended products in Mendima village and other small ventures in other villages that could not be visited.
Moreover, cooperative societies have been formed through the encouragement of the local MLA Rupert Momin. The Nangrime Integrated Village Cooperative Society Ltd, Gairong under the presidentship of Haru Momin and Billingston Marak as secretary was formed to start the Pseudo-Banana Stem Manufacturing Unit first at Gairong village nearby the Gairong market and in close proximity with the National Highway-62. To implement what has been planned by the above cooperative society A’We Banana Pseudo-Stem Co-operative Society Ltd, Gairong, North Garo Hills, was formed under the presidentship of Arthaban Sangma and Demure T. Sangma, secretary with many members from Gairong village and several villages. The sole objective of this venture of the society is to manufacture fibre, waste paper, soda, compost, animal feed and other products from banana stem because so much of banana stem is wasted everywhere in the fields. If the venture is successful it will be replicated elsewhere in the villages of the constituency, said the secretary, Mr. Demure.
Then to tap the rich potential of agro-horticultural activities especially in Beekeeping of the area some outside agencies identified by NAFED have shown interest in partnering with Farmers of the Areas of Kharkutta and North Garo Hills to form Farmers Producers’ Organisations (FPOs) which are cluster based organisations. One of the Agencies is Salt Range Foundation based at AT Road, Guwahati. The foundation (agency) will form the FPOs and register them under the Registration of Companies Act and thereafter train the members of the organisations (FPOs) step-by-step and give the handholding and support them for three years to be able to stand on their own feet in beekeeping ventures.
The Government of Meghalaya’ interventions through agriculture, horticulture, forest, PWD, PHE departments are manifested in many ways but the departments of water resources, health, education, fishery, tourism, sericulture, industry and others are hardly seen on the ground in fact the people here are not at all happy with them. In fact the constituency has greatly improved all-round in road connectivity, in agriculture, horticulture and development in youth activities, in the growth of mini and small scale units especially in food processing units because of the foresight, hardwork and initiatives taken by Rupert Momin, the local MLA.
The other tremendous prospect of economic potential of North Garo Hills especially, Kharkutta constituency is tourism. North Garo Hills is blessed for its natural richness and beauty. This is also true for the Kharkutta constituency. Its landscapes like the Badaka and many others are highly captivating with awe. The community forest cover is thin except for the dwindling reserved forest near Rongjeng and a few others, but the lack of green cover is compensated by the vast banana, areca nut and rubber plantations. The broomstick plantations look green during summer, autumn and a little part of winter before harvest time.
Then the presence of beautiful crystal clear streams and rivers like the Manda, Chil, Rongchong and Aldek which are ideal for angling which abound with fresh tasty variety of fishes like the locally known as Nanil, Nadang, Nachi, Nabat, Narong, Na.ek which are similar to those earlier found in the famous Simsang River of East and South Garo Hills. The captivating tourist picnic spots like the banks of Aldek river, Manda river, Chil river, Rongchong River, N.kachikong waterfall, Mokma water fall, Rong.ma Gitil huge rock and other big rock hills. For those who love paragliding sports there are spots which are favourable for enchanting paragliding.
It may be mentioned here that Kharkutta is the 37th constituency of Meghalaya. Its total present electorate is about 45,000 and a predominant tribal (Garo) constituency with its population and economy is agrarian. Except for sand, stones which are the major minerals there are almost absent however, now it has precious forest products like Sal, teak and other timbers valuable for house and boat construction. (The writer is a senior journalist from Meghalaya)
