Meghalaya

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Meghalaya

Area: 22,429 sq km
Capital: Shillong
Languages: Khasi, Garo and English.
Districts: 7
Meghalaya, literally 'the abode of the clouds' (Megha=clouds, Alaya=abode), was inaugurated as an autonomous state on April 2,1970. It was declared a state of the Indian Union on January 21, 1972.

Physiography: The exclusive tribal State of the Khasis, the Jaintias and the Garos is a mountain region. Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, is situated in the centre of a high plateau. It has been called 'the Scotland of the East' because of its elevation (1496m above the sea level). The highest peak in the state is the Shillong Peak 1965 m in height. Nokrek in the Garo Hills district is the next highest peak.




A number of rivers, none of them navigable, drain this mountainous area. Manda, Damring, Janjiram, Ringee, Ganol, Bugi and Simsang flow through the Garo Hills District Kynshi, Khri, Umtrew, Umngot, Umiam Mawphlang and Umiam Khwan flow through Khasi Hills district and Kupli, Myntdu & Myntang flow through Jaintia Hills district. Meghalaya is the homeland of three of India's ancient hills communities - the Khasis, the Jaintias, and the Garos. Dance, music and sports reflect their way of life. Khasi is spoken by Khasis and Jaintias. The Garo Hills is the homeland of about 10 lakhs of Garos who prefer to call themselves .

Administration: Meghalaya is a constituent state of the North Eastern Council. The state has a unicameral legislature. The state is divided into 7 Districts.

Districts
  1. East Khasi Hills ( Shillong )
  2. West Khasi Hills
  3. East Garo Hills
  4. West Garo Hills
  5. Jaintia Hills
  6. Ri-Bhoi
  7. South Garo Hills

Economy:The majority of the people depend on land for their livelihood. But the potential for agricultural expansion is very limited in Meghalaya due to the terrain. Jhumming or shifting cultivation, practised in the state on a large scale, is one of the biggest problems to be tackled in Meghalaya. The state government has made a modest beginning with a scheme to help the farmers to settle on lands which are suitable for steady cultivation.

Total cropped area in 1994-95 was 238,581 hectares. Total foodgrain production was 143,173 tonnes. Pineapple is a chief horticultural crop. Area under forests was 950,000 hectares in 1992-93.The state is not so far industrially developed. However, new industrial units are fast coming up. There is a public sector cement factory at Cherrapunjee.

Meghalaya's hydro-electric and thermal power potential has been estimated at about 2500 and 1000 megawatts respectively.About 11.40 lakhs of people of the state have been covered under the rural water supply schemes.

Universities:

  • Nehu–North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Pin: 793 022.

Tourist Centres: Meghalaya is a 'Dream-come-true' for the tourist. It is a happy land of magnificent beauty, undulating hills, rolling grasslands, cascading water-falls, snaking rivers, terraced slopes and thrilling wild life.Some of the important tourist spots are: Uniam Lake, Kyllang Rock, Nohsngithiang falls at Mawsmai, and the monoliths of Nartiang.

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