Overview
Jaintia Hills district was a former administrative district of the state of Meghalaya in north-east India. It covered the Jaintia Hills region, traditionally inhabited by the Pnar (Jaintia) people, a sub-group of the Khasi. The district had its headquarters at Jowai. In 2012, it was bifurcated into two new districts — East Jaintia Hills and West Jaintia Hills — after which the original Jaintia Hills district ceased to exist as a single administrative unit.
Key facts
| Name | Jaintia Hills district |
|---|---|
| State | Meghalaya |
| Country | India |
| Headquarters | Jowai |
| Region | Jaintia Hills |
| Principal community | Pnar (Jaintia) |
| Status | Former district (bifurcated in 2012) |
| Successor districts | East Jaintia Hills, West Jaintia Hills |
Geography
The district was situated in the eastern part of Meghalaya, bordered by the state of Assam to the north, Bangladesh to the south, and the East Khasi Hills district to the west. The terrain consists largely of plateaux, hill ranges and river valleys, with a generally cool and wet climate. Notable physical features in the region include the Myntdu river and limestone formations that have supported extensive cement and coal-based industry.
Administration
The district was administered through the office of a Deputy Commissioner based at Jowai. Like other parts of Meghalaya inhabited by tribal communities, it functioned under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India, with the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council exercising authority over land, customary law and certain local subjects. The district was further organised into community and rural development blocks and civil sub-divisions, with Khliehriat serving as an important sub-divisional centre, particularly for the eastern parts.
History
The Jaintia Hills had historically formed part of the Jaintia Kingdom, ruled by Pnar kings from Jaintiapur. The kingdom was annexed by the British East India Company in the 1830s following the conflict known as the Jaintia annexation, and the hill territories were administered as part of the British province of Assam. After Indian independence, the area continued under Assam until the creation of the autonomous state of Meghalaya in 1970 and the full state of Meghalaya in 1972, at which point Jaintia Hills became one of its districts.
Bifurcation
On 31 July 2012, the Government of Meghalaya bifurcated Jaintia Hills district into two separate districts:
- East Jaintia Hills, with headquarters at Khliehriat.
- West Jaintia Hills, with headquarters at Jowai.
The reorganisation was undertaken to bring administration closer to the people, particularly in the mining belt around Khliehriat and Sutnga.
Economy
The economy of the erstwhile district was based on agriculture, horticulture and mineral extraction. Paddy, potato, ginger, turmeric, areca nut and oranges are among the principal crops grown in the region. The Jaintia Hills are particularly known for large reserves of coal and limestone; cement plants and rat-hole coal mining became major economic activities, though the latter has been the subject of significant environmental and regulatory scrutiny.
Culture and society
The Pnar people, who form the majority population, follow a matrilineal system of descent and inheritance similar to other Khasi groups. The indigenous religion Niam Tre continues to be practised alongside Christianity, which spread in the region through 19th- and 20th-century missionary activity. Traditional festivals such as Behdienkhlam, observed annually at Jowai, are important cultural events. The Pnar language, written in the Roman script, is widely spoken.
Significance
As a district, Jaintia Hills was significant for being the homeland of the Pnar community and for hosting some of Meghalaya's most important mineral resources. Its bifurcation in 2012 marked an early stage in a wider reorganisation of districts in Meghalaya aimed at improving administrative reach in remote and resource-rich areas.