Sasatgre | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 Bamboo farm buildings and areca trees, Sasatgre | |
  Sasatgre | |
| Coordinates: 25°31′38″N 90°19′39″E / 25.527269°N 90.327383°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Meghalaya |
| Elevation | 900 m (3,000 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 362 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Postal Index Number | 794002 |
| Website | https://westgarohills.gov.in/ |
Sasatgre is a village in the West Garo Hills district, Meghalaya, India. Sasatgre is located on a saddle at the edge of the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve. The economy is largely agrarian, following the traditional jhum system of rotational slash-and-burn cropping. Most of the houses are traditional bamboo buildings. Homestays offer tourists an experience of the traditional Garo way of life.
Description
editSasatgre village is located in the Rongram Community & Rural Development (C&RD) block in the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya.[1]: 334 It falls under the North Tura Meghalaya assembly constituency and the North Tura Lok Sabha constituency.[2] The houses are large bamboo structures called Nokmong. Each accommodates one family. Alongside are granaries (Jam nok), woodsheds and pig sties.[3]: 21 [4]
Demographics
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In 2011, the total population was 362 in 63 households. Among these 48.9% were female. There were no scheduled castes while 89% belonged to scheduled tribes. The literacy rate was 68.8%.[5]: 148-9 In the rural areas of the West Garo Hills District, Christians were the majority at 59.0%, Muslims comprised 18.6% and Hindus were 18.3%.[6]
Governance
editTraditionally, the village was governed by one or more male nokmas (headmen). These are selected from the leading households of the village based on lineage. The nokma in consultation with the households allots the plots for jhumming every year. He also is responsible for settling disputes. As the Garo society is matrilinal, the nokma typically looks for a young man from his own lineage to marry his daughter. The son-in-law then inherits the household and becomes nokma when the father-in-law dies.[3]: 223–35 [7]
The system has evolved after Indian Independence. The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council passed the Garo Hills District (Jhum) Regulation Act, 1954 that confers on the nokma the right to allot jhum land. However, disputes related to allotment are now referred to the Village Council instead of being resolved by the nokma. Village Councils were created based on the Constitution of Village Council Act in 1958. The Village Council is intended to make each village a self-sufficient, efficiently administered unit. It is responsible for maintenance of public paths, roads, wells, tanks, etc, for registration of births and deaths and other record keeping, etc.[7]
Amenities
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Sasatgre village has a pre-primary and primary school, established in 1962. As of 2011, a middle school is within 5 km (3.1 mi). For secondary and higher education, students have to commute more than 10 km (6.2 mi). The village has several water sources including piped and well water, springs and ponds. Mobile telephony and electricity supply are available. The village has a sports field.[1]: 376-382 There is an India Post Branch Office (B.O.) with pincode 794002.[8]
Economy
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The economy is largely agrarian. In 2011, people cultivating their own or leased land comprised 87% of the main workers (those employed for >6 months in a year).[5]: 150-51 Sasatgre lies on the edge of the Nokrek Gene Sanctuary-cum-Biosphere Reserve. Orange plantations are a feature of the village.[9] Weaving of cane and bamboo products is done by households mostly for their own use, increasingly for sale to tourists. They make bamboo mats, kok (traditional baskets), and a variety of containers.[1]: 10
Agriculture
editThe traditional jhum system of rotational cropping is followed to some extent. In the jhum system, A'king land is owned by the community. Each year, the Nokma allots plots of A'king land to each household for pre-determined crops. After 2 years of use, a plot is left fallow for 6-8 years during which scrub forest grows. When the plot is again allotted for cropping, the scrub forest is cleared and burnt in a planned operation.[3]: 27–42 [1]: 8 This traditional cycle of 'slash-and-burn' rotational cultivation is believed to be sustainable ecologically and culturally.[10]
In the first year, the plot is used for vegetables such as sweet potato, ginger, varieties of beans, sugarcane, onions, etc. In the second year, grains such as rice, maize or millet are grown on the plot. Bananas, oranges and pineapples are also grown. Gourds and squashes are grown on frames or on the walls of houses. In some plots, cash crops such as areca, cotton and chilli peppers are planted. The planting of vegetables is somewhat random, adding variety to the diet and improving the soil health. In a few low lying plots, rice is cultivated continuously.[3]: 27–42
In recent times, some families took advantage of a custom that permitted planting of crops on any land not already covered by the jhum system. They constructed permanent fields in low-lying areas to grow wet rice. Some also planted pineapples, tea and areca palms. These families moved their houses away from the central village to the location of their permanent fields. Such permanent fields can be surveyed by the district administration and title (patta) granted to the cultivators. With the title comes the obligation to pay taxes, which is not the case with jhum land. These developments have created greater inequality in the village.[3]: 323–32
Animal husbandry
editRaising of livestock is common though secondary to agriculture. The main animals are cattle, goats, pigs and fowl.[11]: 71 [1]: 9
Transport
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Sasatgre is connected to important places in the district by black-topped roads. The Meghalaya Transport Corporation buses run at infrequent intervals. Many private buses serve the district regularly. Taxis and vans are available for hire.[1]: 11, 380
Tourism
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Sasatgre is on the edge of the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve which contains the Nokrek National Park in its core. Sasatgre is a convenient base for visiting the Daribokgre entrance to Nokrek about 7 km (4.3 mi) distant. As the villagers retain many of their traditional customs, tourists can experience the tribal lifestyle in a few homestays.[9][12] A local resident, Dharmen Momin pioneered homestays in Sasatgre with Dopatchi Homestay using traditional bamboo buildings. The thatched roofs providing nesting places for birds. Visitors experience Garo food, bird-watching, bee-keeping, etc.[13] For his efforts, Momin received the Silver Indian Responsible Tourism Award 2023 in the category "Sustainability Champions: Grassroots Heroes".[14]
References
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- ^ a b c d e f Meghalaya: District Census Handbook: West Garo Hills -- Village and Town Directory (PDF). 2 Part XII A. Directorate of Census Operations, Meghalaya, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India. 2011.
- ^ "Polling Booth in North Tura Assembly Constituency". Election Commission of India. 21 January 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d e {{Cite book |last=Burling |first=R. |title=Rengsanggri |publisher=Tura Book Room, Garo Baptist Convention |year=1997 |edition=2nd |location=Tura
- ^ "Culture & Heritage: Garo Architecture". West Garo Hills district, Government of Meghalaya. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ a b Meghalaya: District Census Handbook: West Garo Hills -- Village and Town Wise Primary Census Abstract (PCA) (PDF). 2 Part XII B. Directorate of Census Operations, Meghalaya, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India. 2011.
- ^ Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India (21 January 2021). "C-01: Population by religious community, Meghalaya - 2011". Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
- ^ a b Chaudhury, D.R. (July- September, 2005, Volume 7 No. 1). "Autonomous District Councils and Panchayati Raj Institutions in North-East India". Dialogue. 7 (1). Delhi: Astha Bharati.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Locate Post Office: Sasatgre". India Post, Dept. of Posts, Ministry of Communications, Govt of India. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Places of Interest > Sasatgre". West Garo Hills district, Government of Meghalaya. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
- ^ Current Science Reports (25 February 2022). "Jhum for Sustainability: Agrobiodiversity in Garo Hills". Current Science. 122 (4): 376.
- ^ Statistical Handbook of Meghalaya 2023. Shillong: Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of Meghalaya. November 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: year (link) - ^ "Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma inaugurates Viewing Deck, Nok•Achik". Imphal Free Press. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
- ^ Tasnim, N. (25 December 2023). "A Home Away From Home: Best Eco-Friendly Homestays In India". Outlook Traveller. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
- ^ "Indian Responsible Tourism Awards 2023". Outlook Traveller. Retrieved 2 November 2024.