MEGHALAYA

MEGHALAYA

Area : 22,429 sq km , Population : 23,18,822(2001 Census)
Capital : Shillong , Principal Languages : Khasi, Garo and English

HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY

Meghalaya was created as an autonomous State within the State of Assam on 2 April 1970. The full-fledged State of Meghalaya came into existence on 21 January 1972. It is bound on the north and east by Assam and on the south and west by Bangladesh. Meghalaya, which literally means ‘the Abode of Clouds’ is essentially a hilly state. It is predominately inhabited by the Khasis, the Jaintias and the Garos tribe communities. The Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills which form the central and eastern part of Meghalaya from an imposing plateau with rolling grassland, hills and river valleys. The southern face of the plateau is marked by deep gorges and abrupt slopes, at the foot of which, a narrow strip of plain land runs along the international border with Bangladesh.

AGRICULTURE

Meghalaya is basically an agricultural State in which about 80 per cent of its population depends primarily on agriculture for their livelihood. The State has a vast potential for development of horticulture due to the agroclimatic variations, which offer much scope for cultivation of temperate, sub-tropical and tropical fruits and vegetables. Besides major food crops of rice and maize, Meghalaya is renowned for its orange (Khasi Mandarian), pineapples, bananas, jackfruit, temperate fruits like plum, pear and peach, etc. Cash crops, popularly and traditionally cultivated include potato, turmeric, ginger, black pepper, arecanut, betelvine, tapioca, short staple cotton, jute and mesta, mustard and rapeseed. Special emphasis is presently being laid on non- traditional crops like oilseeds (groundnut, soyabean and sunflower), cashewnut, strawberry, tea and coffee, mushroom, medicinal plants, orchids and commercial flowers.

INDUSTRIES

The Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation Limited, as the Industrial and Financial Institution of the State, has been rendering financial assistance to the local entrepreneurs. District Industries Centres have been working in the field for the promotion and development of small-scale, village, tiny and cottage industries. A number of industrial projects have been set up for the manufacture of iron and steel materials, cement and other industrial products.

FESTIVALS

A five-day-long religious festival of the Khasis ‘Ka Pamblang Nongkrem’ popularly known as ‘Nongkrem dance’ is annually held at Smit village, 11 km from Shillong. ‘Shad Sukmynsiem’, another important festival of the Khasis is held at Shillong during the second week of April. ‘Behdeinkhlam’, the most important and colourful festival of the Jaintias is celebrated annually at Jowai in Jaintia Hills in July. ‘Wangala festival’ is observed for a week to honour Saljong (Sungod) of the Garos during October – November.

TOURIST CENTRES

Meghalaya is dotted with a number of lovely tourist spots where nature unveils herself in all her glory. Shillong, the capital city, has a number of beautiful spots. A few of them are :

• Ward’s Lake,
• Lady Hydari Park,
• Polo Ground,
• Mini Zoo,
• Elephant Falls,
• Shillong Peak overlooking the city and the Golf Course which is one of the best in the country.

TRANSPORT

Roads:
Six national highways pass through Meghalaya. The State has 7,977.98 km of both surfaced and unsurfaced roads.

Aviation:
The only airport in the State at Umroi, is 35 km from Shillong.

GOVERNMENT

Governor : R. K. Mooshahary , Chief Secretary : R. Chatterjee
Chief Minister : Dr. Donkapar Roy
Jurisdiction of High Court : Falls under the jurisdiction of Guwahati High Court.

There is a High Court Bench atShillong.