NOTE ON WEST JAINTIA HILLS DISTRICT

West Jaintia Hills District is one of the 11 (eleven) districts of the state of Meghalaya. With the bifurcation of the erstwhile Jaintia Hills District into East and West Jaintia Hills District, West Jaintia Hills District came into existence on 31^st July 2012 with its Head Quarter in Jowai.

                Jowai is the host of all the heads of important governmental offices and establishments, educational institutions, hospitals, banking institutions, etc. 

Area

The total area of the district is 1693 Sq.Kms. The District comprises of 1 (one) Civil Sub Division Viz Amlarem Sub Division Viz Amlarem Civil sub-Division and 3 (three) community and rural Development Blocks viz. Amlarem C&RD Block, Laskein C&RD Block and Thadlaskein C&RD Block with the following boundaries :-

North – Assam

South – Bangladesh and East Jaintia Hills District

East – Assam

West – East Khasi Hills District

Population

The district has a total population of 2,70,352 of which 1,34,406 are males and 1,35,946 are females. The density of population is 159.69 per sq.km.

                The following table shows the block wise area and population of West Jaintia Hills District

Name of the block	Area (sq.km)	Population
		Male	Female	Total Population	Population Density
Amlarem	398.00	21750	21802	43552	109.43
Laskein	390.40	45182	44783	89965	230.44
Thadlaskein	896.60	53761	54654	108415	120.92
Jowai (Urban)	8.00	13713	14707	28420	3552.50
Total	1693.00	134406	135946	270352	159.69

 

Festivals

Behdiengkhlam : this is the most important festival of the jaintias and is celebrated after the sowing is done. It is celebrated annually at jowai, ialong, mukhla, thadmuthlong and chyrmang usually at the month of July-august. It is a popular and colourful festival. Men only, young and old, take part in the dancing but have an important role to play at home in offering sacrificial food to the spirit of the ancestors. They invoke their aid and intercession that life here below will be good and worthy for the next one above. Men make a symbolic driving away of the evil spirits which cause sickness and misery, by beating the roof of every house with bamboo poles. This festival is also an invocation to god seeking his blessings for a good harvest.

Number of sub-divisions/police sub-divisions/ circles with name

The District comprises of 1 (one) Civil Sub Division Viz Amlarem Sub Division Viz Amlarem Civil sub-Division and 3 (three) community and rural Development Blocks viz. Amlarem C&RD Block, Laskein C&RD Block and Thadlaskein C&RD Block with the following boundaries :-

North – Assam

South – Bangladesh and East Jaintia Hills District

East – Assam

West – East Khasi Hills District