Volume-XI, Issue-IV, July 2025 |
Traditional Decision-Making Processes in Garo Villages: PMGSY Implementation in Jamangre Village, Meghalaya Mr. Wenfield D Sangma, Research Scholar, Dept. of Political Science, William Carey University, Meghalaya, India |
Received: 12.06.2025 | Accepted: 12.07.2025 | Published Online: 31.07.2025 | Page No: | ||||
DOI: 10.29032/ijhsss.vol.11.issue.04W.104 | |||||||
ABSTRACT | ||
The paper examined the relationship between Garo traditional decision-making processes and the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in Jamanggre village, South-West Garo Hills, Meghalaya. It also investigates how traditional institutions such as Nokma (Village Chief), Chra (maternal uncles or brothers), and Maharis (maternal clan) oversee local government, resource management, and participation in development projects. The study found a considerable discrepancy in infrastructure development between the Garo Hills region and surrounding communities such as Khasi and Jaintia. Interviews with village authorities (Nokma and village elders) and observations of village meetings in Jamanggre village reveal that the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana did not satisfy community expectations. The study identified several challenges with the integration of PMGSY in Jamanggre. The residents are dissatisfied with the use of substandard materials for road building and the lack of complete road connectivity. Landowners whose property was used for road construction received no recompense from the government or village officials, prompting discontent. Different objectives and priorities among government officials (standardised procedures, fiscal limits, and village authorities' distinct local needs and cultural values). The road development under the PMGSY was completed after four years in 2020, benefiting the locals. However, the absence of tree planting along the road indicates a lack of community involvement due to a failure to meet community demand. Keywords: Traditional, Decision-making, Nokma (Garo Village Chief), PMGSY Implementation, Jamangre Village |