Residents of Nartiang village in West Jaintia Hills are up in arms against the controversial division of their village under the recently passed Jaintia Hills Autonomous District (Constitution of District Council) Amendment Bill, 2024.
The amendment bill, passed by the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC), has sparked outrage and deep concern among the villagers, who say the move has fragmented their community and undermined their cultural and social unity.
Nartiang village, known for its rich cultural heritage and historical significance, has been divided into two separate constituencies.
Under the new amendment bill, Iaw Nartiang has been incorporated into the Moodop-Umladang constituency, while Nartiang A and Nartiang B have been merged into the Nartiang-Wahiajer Constituency.
This division has left Nartiang A and Nartiang B without a Rangbah Shnong (Headman), a traditional leader who plays a crucial role in maintaining the village’s unity and governance.
In a press conference held today, village representatives expressed their deep disappointment with the decision, emphasising that the division of their village directly contravenes the doctrine of the Sixth Schedule, which is designed to protect the traditional culture and governance of tribal communities in Meghalaya.
“We have communicated our concerns to the relevant authorities multiple times, but our pleas have fallen on deaf ears,” said one of the village leaders.
“We sent letters requesting the retention of Nartiang within its existing constituency, asked for special meetings with the Delimitation Committee, and even submitted memoranda during public hearings. Despite all these efforts, our community has been divided, and our traditional leadership structure has been dismantled,” he added.
The villagers have submitted a formal letter to the District Council Affairs Department, appealing for urgent intervention to reverse the division.
They are urging the District Council Affairs Department to recognise the severe impact of this bill on Nartiang’s community and to take immediate action to preserve the unity and cultural heritage of the village.
“We have tried every avenue available to us, but the response has been disappointing. We hope the District Council Affairs Department will finally hear our voices and take the necessary steps to protect our village from further harm,” the villagers stated.
The situation in Nartiang is being closely monitored, and the villagers remain hopeful that their concerns will be addressed before further damage is done to their community.
As the issue continues to escalate, the focus now shifts to the District Council Affairs Department’s response to this pressing matter.
