Shillong, Aug 14: The Hynniewtrep Border Dispute Redressal Forum (HBDRF) has urged the state government to recognize and include the 36 villages of Elaka Labang Nongphyllut under Block I in the state’s official records and electoral systems.
“We urge the state government to take immediate actin to recognize and include the villages in the official records of all state government departments,” the Forum said in a memorandum submitted before the chief secretary DP Wahlang on Thursday.
The Forum has also requested the government to direct the chief electoral office and relevant authorities to integrate the villages into the electoral system, including mapping them under their appropriate Legislative Assembly Constituencies and including residents in the electoral rolls.
“We also urge the government to issue a formal government notification recognizing these villages as part of the state’s jurisdiction in line with the approved maps and findings of the joint enquiry, to put an end to administrative ambiguity,” it added.
According to the memorandum, the villages in question were part of a Joint Enquiry Proceedings conducted in 1958 between the United Khasi & Jaintia Hills District Council and United Cachar & Mikirs Hills District Council.
Based on these proceedings, the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) has already notified the Elaka and appointed an Acting Dolloi and issued Sanads to the Headmen of the villages.
The exclusion of these villages from the state’s governance and electoral systems has resulted in denial of basic services and infrastructure, disenfranchisement and lack of representation in democratic processes, exclusion from State Census records, development programs, and welfare schemes, neglect and erosion of traditional institutions and legitimate administrative authority.
“This is not merely an administrative formality – it is a matter of historical correction, legal obligation and justice to the indigenous communities of the area. For decades, the people of these villages have lived as parts of the cultural and traditional landscape of Meghalaya. It is both unfair and untenable that they continue to be left out of governance systems that area meant to serve and protect them,” the forum also wrote.
“Therefore, we appeal to your conscience and sense of duty to take swift and decisive step to correct this long pending injustice. The communities concerned stand ready to fully cooperate with any departmental verification, documentation or inspection required,” it added.
It may be mentioned here that the forum has been demanding retransferring of the 36 villages under Block-I back to Meghalaya.
 has urged the state government to recognize and include the 36 villages of Elaka Labang Nongphyllut under Block I in the state's official records and electoral systems.){kind=link}