The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has earmarked Rs 50 lakh for research work on 20 areas pertaining to the traditions, culture, customs and practices of the Khasi community.
In response to a cut motion moved by opposition MDC Martle N Mukhim on the last day of the special session, KHADC CEM Pyniaid Sing Syiem said that the council has notified the Research and Development Committee under its Education Department comprising of Executive Member in charge, Carnes Sohshang.
The other members of the committee include academics Jasmine Lyngdoh, Plielad Nongsiej, DRL Nonglait, Faithfulness Marngar, Belinda Marwein and Barika Khyriem.
Informing that Rs 20 lakh has been allocated for major research while Rs 15 lakh has been earmarked for minor research, he said that a further Rs 5 lakh has been earmarked for books and another Rs 5 lakh miscellaneous expenses.
Research scholars who will be selected will have to complete their work by March 31, 2024, Syiem informed.
“We want to promote research work among the youths/research scholars who are deprived from getting scholarships/funding from other sources,” he said, adding that a lack of quality published research papers and books is one of the main hindrances confronted by research scholars.
He said that the council’s Education Department will take up the challenge to promote research among scholars and academics to enrich the tangible resources in the form of books or research papers.
Informing that the KHADC also aimed to provide funding to postgraduate students, research scholars and teaching faculty to conduct research related to social, political and traditional aspects of the Khasis that have theoretical, conceptual and methodological and policy implications, he said that the 20 areas of research include religion and rituals, marriage, dialect/varieties of languages, origin of clan and Khasi lineage, culture, administration of traditional heads, degradation of value system in Khasi society, superstitions, land holding system, traditional/seasonal market, traditional musical instruments, historical places and monoliths, handicrafts, inheritance, food and drink, traditional medicine/traditional practitioners and the life and contribution of the late JJM Nichols Roy.
