BAGHMARA : Residents of Dabigre Village in South Garo Hills have objected to the village’s inclusion within the urban extension area of the Baghmara Municipal Board, alleging that the move was carried out without consultation and does not reflect the village’s rural character.
A formal complaint was submitted to the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) by social activist Sengwat A. Sangma on behalf of residents and the A’king Nokma of Dabigre Sintang A’king.
In the complaint, the villagers registered what they termed as a strong objection to the inclusion of Dabigre within the municipal jurisdiction, arguing that the village has traditionally functioned as a rural settlement under the customary A’king land system.
According to the complaint, Dabigre has never been urban in character and lacks the infrastructure, civic amenities and municipal services typically associated with an urban area. The residents maintain that the village should continue to remain under rural administration and governance.
One of the key concerns raised in the complaint is the alleged lack of consultation before the classification was carried out. The villagers claim that neither residents nor traditional landowners were informed or consulted before the village was included within the urban expansion area. They argue that the decision was taken without obtaining the views of the affected community and does not reflect the wishes of local residents.
Another issue highlighted in the complaint relates to the process of data collection and enumeration.
The complaint alleges that census enumerators did not visit individual households in the village and that information was instead collected from a single tea shop. According to the residents, such a process does not accurately represent the demographic and social realities of the village. They have questioned the credibility of the data used and called for a review of the procedures that led to the village’s inclusion within the urban jurisdiction.
The complaint further describes the classification as arbitrary and argues that it disregards the village’s traditional identity, landholding system and community structure. Residents fear that the inclusion of the village within an urban administration framework could have long-term implications for customary governance and traditional land rights.
As the primary institution entrusted with safeguarding customary land systems and traditional governance structures within the district, the GHADC has been urged to intervene and review the matter. The residents have requested that the Council revoke the classification and exclude Dabigre Village from the urban extension area until their concerns are addressed and proper consultation is conducted.
They have also called for any future decision affecting the village’s administrative status to involve meaningful engagement with local residents and traditional authorities.
Document: Complaint submitted to the GHADC
