India is home to the fourth-largest railway network in the world. The country’s first passenger train ran on April 16, 1853, between Thane and Bori Bunder in Bombay (Mumbai). For Meghalaya, railway has been a topic of heated debate for many years and the influential Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) is a major stakeholder in its opposition. The Mendipathar railway line which began its operation on November 30, 2014, connects the Garo Hills to the rest of the country. The issue of expanding rail networks to other parts of the State especially the Khasi and Jaintia Hills has been met with strong resistance by the pressure groups spread headed by the KSU.
Historically railways have played an important role in connecting the Khasi Hills region with the rest of the country. The Cherra Companyganj State Railways (CCSR) was established as a transportation link between undivided Bengal and the Khasi Hills during British colonial rule. The CCSR began operations on June 6, 1886, offering connectivity that benefited both locals and the Britishers. However, the operation of railways in this part of the country has long since ceased and efforts to revive rail links in the Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills regions have met with staunch opposition primarily due to fears of an influx of outsiders.
A Mechanism to Address Concerns of Influx
On October 18, 2024, the government of Meghalaya announced its intention to implement the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016, in a more meaningful manner to provide a revolving fund of a minimum of Rs 2 lakh per district. The Act can be regarded as a well-thought-out piece of legislation which is having the potential to be a role model policy for other states that are facing similar problems as it aimed at addressing the long-standing concern of an influx of non-indigenous people which has been perceived as a threat to the cultural, social and demographic fabric of Meghalaya’s indigenous communities.
At its core, the MRSSA seeks to prevent anti-social elements from gathering shelter in the State by creating a framework for mandatory registration of tenants facilitated through the traditional institutions of the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo communities. The Act codified the power of the traditional heads in managing the inflow of influx in their concerned locality and ensuring the safety and security of residents. On paper, it is a good mechanism that could address the concerns surrounding the influx of outsiders and might pave the way for expanding railway connectivity.
Further, the Garo Hills have benefited from the Mendipathar railway line and the Khasi and Jaintia Hills remain without rail connectivity. The primary reason for this is the fear of an unchecked and unregulated influx which could potentially change the demographic balance in these regions. Influential stakeholders argue that railway connectivity could lead to mass migration of people from other parts of India into the state thereby posing a threat to the indigenous identity.
This fear is a genuine concern in several North East states, including Meghalaya. The influx of outsiders has been an issue that has led to economic, cultural, and social tensions. Indigenous populations often feel that they are being gradually overwhelmed by settlers from outside the region leading to competition for resources, jobs, and even political influence. In our State, the indigenous Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo tribes make up most of the population, but their numbers could be weakened if migration is not carefully regulated.
The Fear of Influx and Opposition to Railway Expansion
The opposition to railway expansion in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills is primarily driven by concerns over the demographic impact of an influx of outsiders. There is a fear that the opening of railways would lead to an increase in migration particularly of people from other parts of India and Bangladesh which could alter the cultural and social landscape of the region. Can trains be a means of transport for immigrants?
The question can be partially answer by the news reported by ANI News on August 1, 2024 stated that security forces arrested ten individuals from Agartala railway station including eight Bangladeshis for suspected human trafficking and news reported by NDTV on January 13, 2021, stated that ten people, suspected to be illegal Rohingya immigrants were arrested from a Rajdhani Express train at the New Jalpaiguri station in West Bengal and they had allegedly crossed over on January 10 from Comilla in Bangladesh to Sonamura in Tripura and had boarded the train at Agartala. This shows that trains are easily accessible to people, and they are affordable to travel from one destination to another.
The indigenous communities who have long struggled to preserve their traditions, languages, and ways of life are worried about any developments that could impact their cultural identity. Considering these concerns, several pressure groups in the State have actively opposed the expansion of railway networks. Protests and agitations have been held with slogans warning against the dangers of an influx and the potential of becoming a minority in our land. The opposition has been so strong that successive governments have been unsure to move forward with railway projects fearing a backlash.
Pilot Study of the MRSSA at Mendipathar Railway Station
One way to address the concerns surrounding railway expansion in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills is to conduct a pilot study of the MRSSA in areas where rail connectivity already exists. The Mendipathar railway station in the Garo Hills provides an ideal location for such a study. By observing how the MRSSA is implemented in this area the government can gather valuable data on its effectiveness in curbing the influx of outsiders.
A pilot study would involve monitoring the flow of people into the region through the railway station and assessing whether the MRSSA provisions are sufficient to regulate influx. It would also include gathering feedback from local communities to understand their concerns and whether they feel the Act is working as intended. This data could then be used to make evidence-based decisions and policies to understand whether it is feasible or not feasible to expand railway connectivity to other parts of the State.
If the results of the pilot study are positive, the government would have a strong case to present to stakeholders who oppose railway expansion. It could demonstrate that there is a mechanism in place to prevent an unchecked influx of outsiders and that the state is capable of balancing development with the preservation of indigenous identity. Such evidence-based policymaking could help to build trust between the government and local communities paving the way for the expansion of railway networks in Meghalaya.
In the era of globalisation, the need for improved connectivity cannot be overlooked when proper mechanisms are in place to protect the rights of the indigenous people. Railway networks have the potential to bring significant economic benefits to the State by facilitating tourism, and the movement of people and transportation of goods. The rising prices of fuels (petrol and diesel) have an impact on the rising costs of vegetables, rice and other essential commodities. Hence, we need to reconsider rail connectivity, specifically for goods trains, after taking necessary precautions to address influx concerns and without any policy to protect the state from influx, it will be difficult to go ahead.
At present where no railway line could connect the capital of the State, the influx of transportation from Assam to Meghalaya is very high, and this is benefiting the tourist vehicle operators of Assam rather than of Meghalaya. Why is this happening? The root cause of this problem is that no railway line in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills regions could connect the other parts of the country and if tourists from middle-class families want to visit Meghalaya, they must board a train to reach Guwahati, Assam, and from there they must take tourist vehicles to reach Meghalaya.
Further, the region is connected by airlines to Delhi, Kolkata, etc but it is not enough to generate more tourists to Meghalaya since the airlines in the State are insufficient and must rely on Assam. If a railway line were connected to the region the influx of tourist vehicles from Assam would reduce and this would solve the problems of the local tourist drivers of Meghalaya.
However, any development must be balanced with the need to preserve the unique cultural identity of Meghalaya’s indigenous communities. The challenge for the government is to find a middle ground between development and the preservation of local traditions and values. This is where the MRSSA could play a crucial role. If implemented effectively, the Act could provide a framework for regulating the influx of outsiders thereby addressing the concerns of local communities while allowing for the expansion of railway networks.
