Meghalaya: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}

<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name                           = Meghalaya

| native_name                     =  

| native_name_lang               =  

| image_skyline                   = {{Photomontage

| image_caption                   = Clockwise from top: [[Nohkalikai Falls]], Tawny Breasted Wren, Umngot River, Khrangsuri waterfall

| type                           = [[States and union territories of India|State]]

| image_seal                     = Seal of Meghalaya.svg

| anthem                         = Meghalaya Geet<br />(''Song of Meghalaya'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/melodies-of-freedom-detail.htm?4|title = Melodies of Freedom}}</ref><ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h00WR1MtZdE</ref>

| seal_alt                       =  

| image_map                       = IN-ML.svg

| map_alt                         =  

| map_caption                     =  

| image_map1                     =  

| map_caption1                   =  

| coor_pinpoint                   = Shillong

| coordinates                     = {{coord|25.57|91.88|region:IN-AS|display=inline,title}}

| coordinates_footnotes           =  

| subdivision_type               = Country

| subdivision_name               = [[India]]

| established_title               = Formation

| established_date               = 21 January 1972{{ref|cap|†}}

| parts_type                     = [[List of Indian districts|Districts]]

| parts_style                     = para

| p1                             = [[List of districts of Meghalaya|11]]

| seat_type                       = Capital

| seat                           = [[Shillong]]

| seat1_type                     = Largest city

| seat1                           = Shillong

| government_footnotes           =  

| leader_title                   = [[List of Governors of Meghalaya|Governor]]

| leader_name                     = [[Satya Pal Malik]]<ref name="Governor">{{cite news |last1=PTI |title=Satya Pal Malik Appointed Meghalaya Governor, to Replace Tathagata Roy |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/satya-pal-malik-appointed-meghalaya-governor-to-replace-tathagata-roy-2797255.html |access-date=18 August 2020 |work=News18 |date=18 August 2020}}</ref>

| leader_title1                   = [[Chief Ministers of Meghalaya|Chief&nbsp;Minister]]

| leader_name1                   = [[Conrad Sangma]] ([[National People's Party (India)|NPP]])

| leader_title2                   = [[Legislature of Meghalaya|Legislature]]

| leader_name2                   = [[Unicameral]] (60 seats)

| leader_title3                   = [[14th Lok Sabha|Parliamentary constituency]]

| leader_name3                   = [[Rajya Sabha]] 1 <br /> [[Lok Sabha]] 2

| leader_title4                   = [[High Courts of India|High Court]]

| leader_name4                   = [[Meghalaya High Court]]

| unit_pref                       = Metric<!-- or US or UK -->

| area_footnotes                 =  

| area_total_km2                 = 22429

| area_note                       =  

| area_rank                       = [[List of states and territories of India by area|22nd]]

| elevation_footnotes             =  

| elevation_m                     =  

| population_footnotes           =  

| population_total               = 2,964,007

| population_as_of               = 2011 census

| population_rank                 = [[list of states and union territories of India by population|22nd]]<ref name="census2011.co.in">{{cite web |url=http://www.census2011.co.in/states.php |title=List of states with Population, Sex Ratio and Literacy Census 2011 |publisher=Census2011.co.in |access-date=9 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214170814/http://www.census2011.co.in/states.php |archive-date=14 February 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

| population_density_km2         = auto

| population_note                 =  

| timezone1                       = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]

| utc_offset1                     = +05:30

| iso_code                       = [[ISO 3166-2:IN|IN-ML]]

| blank_name_sec1                 = [[Human Development Index|HDI]]

| blank_info_sec1                 = {{increase}} 0.650 (<span style="color:#fc0">medium</span>)

| blank1_name_sec1               = HDI rank

| blank1_info_sec1               = 26th (2017)

| blank_name_sec2                 = [[Literacy in India|Literacy]]

| blank_info_sec2                 = 75.84% ([[Indian states ranking by literacy rate|24th]])<ref name="census2011.co.in"/>

| blank1_name_sec2               = {{nowrap|[[Official language]]}}

| blank1_info_sec2               = [[English language|English]]<ref name=langoff>{{cite web |url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM47thReport.pdf |title=Report of the Commissioner for linguistic minorities: 47th report (July 2008 to June 2010) |pages=84–89 |publisher=Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India |access-date=16 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513161847/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM47thReport.pdf |archive-date=13 May 2012 }}</ref>

| website                         = {{URL|https://meghalaya.gov.in/}}

| module                         = {{Infobox place symbols  

| footnotes                       = {{ref|cap|†}} It received the status of a full-fledged State in 1971 by the [[North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971]]

| official_name                   =  

The state is the wettest region of India, with the wettest areas in the southern Khasi Hills recording an average of {{convert|12000|mm|abbr=on}} of rain a year.<ref name="ibef"/> About 70 percent of the state is forested.<ref name="Meghalaya and Its Forests">[http://www.megforest.gov.in/megfor_extent_forest.htm Meghalaya and Its Forests] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822010308/http://www.megforest.gov.in/megfor_extent_forest.htm |date=22 August 2014 }} Government of Meghalaya (2012); Quote – total forest area is 69.5%</ref> The [[Meghalaya subtropical forests]] [[ecoregion]] encompasses the state; its mountain forests are distinct from the lowland tropical forests to the north and south. The forests are notable for their [[biodiversity]] of mammals, birds, and plants.

In July 2018, the [[International Commission on Stratigraphy]] divided the [[Holocene]] epoch into three,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stratigraphy.org/index.php/ics-news-and-meetings/119-collapse-of-civilizations-worldwide-defines-youngest-unit-of-the-geologic-time-scale|title=Collapse of civilizations worldwide defines youngest unit of the Geologic Time Scale|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718214052/http://stratigraphy.org/index.php/ics-news-and-meetings/119-collapse-of-civilizations-worldwide-defines-youngest-unit-of-the-geologic-time-scale|archive-date=18 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/meghalaya-ecstatic-after-being-etched-in-geological-history-permanently/story-jmw6vPPuuNAg2ctBbyTztO.html|title=Meghalaya ecstatic after being etched in geological history permanently|access-date=21 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719204920/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/meghalaya-ecstatic-after-being-etched-in-geological-history-permanently/story-jmw6vPPuuNAg2ctBbyTztO.html|archive-date=19 July 2018|url-status=live|date=19 July 2018}}</ref> with the late Holocene being called the ''[[Meghalayan]] stage/age'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-44868527|title=Welcome to the Meghalayan Age a new phase in history|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718211344/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-44868527|archive-date=18 July 2018|url-status=live|work=BBC News|date=18 July 2018|last1=Amos|first1=Jonathan}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/newest-phase-in-earths-history-named-after-meghalaya-rock/articleshow/65046837.cms|title=Newest phase in Earth's history named after Meghalaya rock|access-date=19 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802183333/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/newest-phase-in-earths-history-named-after-meghalaya-rock/articleshow/65046837.cms|archive-date=2 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> since a [[speleothem]] in [[Caves of Meghalaya#List of twenty longest caves in Meghalaya|Mawmluh cave]] indicating a dramatic worldwide climate event around 2250 BCE had been chosen as the boundary [[stratotype]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.qpg.geog.cam.ac.uk/news/formalsubdivisionoftheholoceneseriesgeogr18.pdf |title=Formal subdivision of the Holocene Series/Epoch |access-date=10 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710194916/https://www.qpg.geog.cam.ac.uk/news/formalsubdivisionoftheholoceneseriesgeogr18.pdf |archive-date=10 July 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Meghalaya, alongside neighbouring Indian states, has been of archaeological interest. People have lived in Meghalaya since the [[Neolithic]]. Neolithic sites discovered so far are located in areas of high elevation in [[Khasi Hills]], [[Garo Hills]] and in neighbouring states, where Neolithic style ''jhum'' or shifting cultivation is practiced even today. The highland plateaus fed by abundant rains provided safety from floods and a rich soil.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hazarika |first=Manjil |year=2006 |title=Neolithic Culture of Northeast India: A Recent Perspective on the Origins of Pottery and Agriculture |journal=Ancient Asia |volume=1 |pages=25–44 |doi=10.5334/aa.06104|url=https://www.ancient-asia-journal.com/jms/article/download/aa.06104/8 |doi-access=free }}</ref> The importance of Meghalaya is its possible role in human history via domestication of rice. One of the competing theories for the origin of rice comes from Ian Glover, who states, "India is the center of greatest diversity of domesticated rice with over 20,000 identified species and Northeast India is the most favorable single area of the origin of domesticated rice."<ref>Glover, Ian C. (1985), Some Problem Relating to the Domestication of Rice in Asia, In Recent Advances in Indo-Pacific Prehistory (Misra, VN. and P. Bellwood Eds.), {{ISBN|978-8120400153}}, Oxford Publishing, pp 265-274</ref> The limited archaeology done in the hills of Meghalaya suggest human settlement since ancient times.<ref name=skr>SANKAR KUMAR ROY, Aspects of Neolithic Agriculture and Shifting Cultivation, Garo Hills, Meghalaya, Asian Perspectives, XXIV (2), 1981, pp 193-221</ref>

After the [[Conquest of Taraf]] in 1304, Shah Arifin Rafiuddin, a disciple of [[Shah Jalal]], migrated and settled in the [[Khasi and Jaintia Hills]] where he preached Islam to the local people. His [[khanqah]] remains in Sarping/Laurergarh on the Bangladeshi border but the part containing his [[mazar (mausoleum)|mazar]] is in Meghalaya on top of Laur Hill.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tahirpur.sunamganj.gov.bd/site/page/4e170264-0757-11e7-a6c5-286ed488c766/%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%20%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%AD%E0%A7%82%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF|title=Upazila background|website=Tahirpur Upazila}}</ref>

Bhaitbari is an archaeological site first discovered and excavated by A. K. Sharma in 1993, a fortification of burnt brick with mud core was discovered at Meghalaya - Assam border and is dated to 4th-8th century AD, the city has been speculated to have been one of the capital cities of [[Kamarupa]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Archaeology: Department of Arts and Culture, Government of Meghalaya|url=http://megartsculture.gov.in/arch.htm|access-date=2021-08-14|website=megartsculture.gov.in}}</ref>

The British discovery of ''[[Camellia sinensis]]'' in 1834 in [[Assam]] and later companies to renting land from 1839 onwards.<ref name=Roy>{{cite book|last=Roy|first=Tirthankar|title=India in the World Economy: From Antiquity to the Present|year=2012|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-107-00910-3|page=202}}</ref>{{Clarify|reason=garbled|date=August 2021}}

At the time of Indian independence in 1947, present-day Meghalaya constituted two districts of Assam and enjoyed limited autonomy within the state of Assam. A movement for a separate Hill State began in 1960.<ref name="meghis" /> On 11 September 1968 the Government of India announced a scheme for constituting an autonomous state within the state of Assam comprising certain areas specified in Part A of the table appended to paragraph 20 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution.<ref>{{cite web|title=High Court of Meghalaya: History|url=http://meghalayahighcourt.nic.in/history|access-date=23 December 2020}}</ref> Accordingly, the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act of 1969 was enacted for the formation of an autonomous state.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act, 1969|url=http://legislative.gov.in/sites/default/files/A1969-55_0.pdf|access-date=23 December 2020}}</ref> Meghalaya was formed by carving out two districts from the state of Assam: the United [[Khasi Hills]] and [[Jaintia Hills]], and the [[Garo Hills]].<ref name="meghis" /> The name 'Meghalaya' coined by geographer [[Shiba P. Chatterjee|S.P. Chatterjee]] in 1936 was proposed and accepted for the new state.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bareh|first=H.M.|title=Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Vol IV|year=2001|publisher=Mittal Publications|isbn=81-7099-791-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Press Releases: Lecture on Emerging Challenges in Mapping|url=http://megipr.gov.in/pr/pr.asp?dt=10-10-2007&prno=750/07|access-date=23 December 2020}}</ref> The Act came into effect on 2 April 1970, with the autonomous state having a 37-member legislature in accordance with the Sixth Schedule to the Indian constitution.

The town of Sohra ([[Cherrapunji]]) in the Khasi Hills south of capital Shillong holds the world record for most rain in a calendar month, while the village of [[Mawsynram]], near Sohra (Cherrapunji), holds the record for the most rain in a year.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Kuttippurath|first1=J|last2=Murasingh|first2=S|last3=Stott|first3=P A|last4=Sarojini|first4=B Balan|last5=Jha|first5=Madan K|last6=Kumar|first6=P|last7=Nair|first7=P J|last8=Varikoden|first8=H|last9=Raj|first9=S|last10=Francis|first10=P A|last11=Pandey|first11=P C|date=2021-01-22|title=Observed rainfall changes in the past century (1901–2019) over the wettest place on Earth|journal=Environmental Research Letters|volume=16|issue=2|pages=024018|doi=10.1088/1748-9326/abcf78|issn=1748-9326|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://wmo.asu.edu|title=Global Weather & Climate Extremes|publisher=[[World Meteorological Organisation]]|access-date=25 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213113854/http://wmo.asu.edu/|archive-date=13 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Meghalaya's forests host 660 species of birds, many of which are endemic to Himalayan foothills, Tibet and Southeast Asia. Of the birds found in Meghalaya forests, 34 are on worldwide threatened species list and 9 are on the critically endangered list.<ref name=avibase>[http://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?region=INneml&list=howardmoore Birds of Meghalaya] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122054357/http://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?region=INneml&list=howardmoore |date=22 January 2015 }} Avibase (2013)</ref> Prominent birds spotted in Meghalaya include those from the families of Phasianidae, Anatidae, Podicipedidae, Ciconiidae, Threskiornithidae, Ardeidae, Pelecanidae, Phalacrocoracidae, Anhingidae, Falconidae, Accipitridae, Otididae, Rallidae, Heliornithidae, Gruidae, Turnicidae, Burhinidae, Charadriidae, Glareolidae, Scolopacidae, Jacanidae, Columbidae, Psittacidae, Cuculidae, Strigidae, Caprimulgidae, Apodidae, Alcedinidae, Bucerotidae, Ramphastidae, Picidae, Campephagidae, Dicruridae, Corvidae, Hirundinidae, Cisticolidae, Pycnonotidae, Sylviidae, Timaliidae, Sittidae, Sturnidae, Turdidae, Nectariniidae and Muscicapidae.<ref name=avibase/> Each of these families have many species. The [[great Indian hornbill]] is the largest bird in Meghalaya. Other regional birds found include the grey [[peacock pheasant]], the large Indian parakeet and the common [[green pigeon]].<ref>Choudhury, A.U. (1998) ''Birds of Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary & adjacent areas''. The Rhino Foundation for Nature in North East India, Guwahati, India. 31pp.</ref> Meghalaya is also home to over 250 species of butterflies, nearly a quarter of all butterfly species found in India.

In 2020, scientists have discovered the largest known subterranean fish in Meghalaya's [[Khasi and Jaintia Hills|Jaintia Hills]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/02/worlds-largest-cave-fish-found-in-india/|title=World's largest cave fish discovered in India|date=12 February 2020|website=Animals|language=en|access-date=29 March 2020}}</ref>

Meghalaya is one of three states in India to have a Christian majority. About 75% of the population practices Christianity, with [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterians]], [[Baptist]]s and [[Catholicism|Catholics]] the more common denominations.<ref name="census2011"/> The religion of the people in Meghalaya is closely related to their ethnicity. Close to 90% of the Garo tribe and nearly 80% of the Khasi are Christian, while more than 97% of the Hajong, 98.53% of the Koch, and 94.60% of the Rabha tribes are Hindu.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}

Hindus are the largest religious minority in Meghalaya with 11.52% of the total state's population as of 2011 census<ref name="census2011"/> Hindus are concentrated mainly in [[West Garo Hills]], [[East Khasi Hills]] and [[Ri-Bhoi]] with 19.11 per cent, 17.55 per cent and 11.96 per cent respectively. The [[Nartiang Durga Temple]] is a major Hindu temple in Meghalaya and it is one of the 51 [[Shakti peethas]] on Earth.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Das|first=Manosh|date=15 October 2010 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lofty-Himalayas-notwithstanding-the-tribal-people-of-Nartiang-in-the-Jaintia-Hills-of-Meghalaya-truly-believe-that-their-scenic-little-hamlet-is-the-permanent-abode-of-Goddess-Durga-Perched-atop-a-hillock-is-the-more-than-600-year-old-and-ancient-Durgabari-a-simple-house-made-of-stones-and-wood-complete-with-tin-roofing-Revered-as-one-of-the-51-Shakti-Peethas-the-temple-has-been-drawing-a-large-number-of-pilgrims-from-all-over-the-country-on-occasion-of-Durga-Puja-/articleshow/6754889.cms|title=Lofty Himalayas notwithstanding, the tribal people of Nartiang in the Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya truly believe that their scenic little hamlet is the "permanent abode" of Goddess Durga. Perched atop a hillock is the more than 600-year old and ancient Durgabari - a simple house made of stones and wood complete with tin roofing. Revered as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, the temple has been drawing a large number of pilgrims from all over the country on occasion of Durga Puja. - Times of India|website=The Times of India|access-date=20 December 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="Census2011">{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16.html|title=C-16: Population by Mother Tongue|publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|last=ORGI|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=10 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815035759/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16.html|archive-date=15 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2012, there were 11 districts, 16 towns and an estimated 6,026 villages in Meghalaya.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web |url=https://meghalaya.gov.in:8443/megportal/department/38 |title=Meghalaya State Portal |publisher=Meghalaya.gov.in:8443 |date=31 March 2011 |access-date=9 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121218171849/https://meghalaya.gov.in:8443/megportal/department/38 |archive-date=18 December 2012 }}</ref> A 12th district, Eastern West Khasi Hills, was created in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rashir |first=Princess Giri |date=10 November 2021 |url=https://www.eastmojo.com/meghalaya/2021/11/10/meghalaya-mairang-civil-sub-division-announced-as-eastern-west-khasi-hills-district/ |title=Meghalaya Mairang Civil Sub-Division announced as Eastern West Khasi Hills District |newspaper=EastMojo |accessdate=28 December 2021}}</ref>

* [[The English and Foreign Languages University]], Shillong Campus<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://eflushc.ac.in/ |title = The English & Foreign Languages University, Shillong Campus – Shillong Campus}}</ref>

Meghalaya's Governor is [[Satya Pal Malik]] since August 2020.<ref name="Governor"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Home Page {{!}} Meghalaya Government Portal |url=https://meghalaya.gov.in/ |access-date=23 November 2020}}</ref>

Meghalaya's gross state domestic product for 2012 was estimated at {{INRConvert|16173|c}} in current prices.<ref name=pcindia>[http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/finres/fr_2013_14/fr_meghalaya1314.pdf Meghalaya] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716065506/http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/finres/fr_2013_14/fr_meghalaya1314.pdf |date=16 July 2014 }} Planning Commission, Govt of India (May 2014)</ref> As of 2012, according to the [[Reserve Bank of India]], about 12% of total state population is below poverty line, with 12.5% of the rural Meghalaya population is below the poverty line; while in urban areas, 9.3% are below the poverty line.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=15283 |title=See 3rd table set for 2012 in Table 162, Number and Percentage of Population Below Poverty Line |publisher=Reserve Bank of India, Government of India |year=2013 |access-date=20 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407102043/http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=15283 |archive-date=7 April 2014 }}</ref>

Grains and staples production covers about 60% of the land area dedicated to crops. With the introduction of different crops of high yielding varieties in the mid-1970s, a remarkable increase in food grain production has been made. A major breakthrough was achieved when high yielding varieties of paddy<ref>[http://megagriculture.gov.in/PUBLIC/crops/rice.aspx Rice] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221115007/http://megagriculture.gov.in/public/crops/rice.aspx |date=21 December 2016 }} Department of Agriculture, Govt of Meghalaya (2009)</ref> such as Masuri, Pankaj IR 8, RCPL and other improved varieties series – especially IR 36 which is suitable for Rabi season – allowing three crops to be grown every year. Another milestone was reached when Megha I and Megha II, which are cold tolerant rice varieties developed by the [[Indian Council of Agricultural Research|ICAR]] North East Region at Umroi near Shillong, was released in 1991–92 for the higher altitude regions where there was no high yielding rice varieties earlier. Today the state can claim that about 42% area under paddy has been covered with high yielding varieties with the average productivity of {{convert|2300|kg/ha|abbr=on}}. As is the case with maize and wheat where the productivity have increased tremendously with the introduction of HYV from {{convert|534|kg/ha|abbr=on}} during 1971–72 to {{convert|1218|kg/ha|abbr=on}} of maize and from {{convert|611|kg/ha|abbr=on}} to {{convert|1490|kg/ha|abbr=on}} of wheat.<ref>[http://megagriculture.gov.in/PUBLIC/crops/food_grains.aspx Food grains] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301011048/http://megagriculture.gov.in/PUBLIC/crops/food_grains.aspx |date=1 March 2014 }} Department of Agriculture, Govt of Meghalaya (2009)</ref>

Concerns over national security, such as the unification of neighbouring hostile countries and local insurgent groups for a possible attack on the Indian state, has served as the longstanding point of emphasis on how the Indian Central Government operates in the Northeast. Different administrative programs have been created to establish peace and stability in this region through economic development.<ref>Sachdeva, Gulshan. "India's Northeast: rejuvenating a conflict-riven economy", Faultines. Vol 6, 2000. http://www.satp.org/ satporgtp/publication/faultlines/volume6/Fault6-GSach-F.htm</ref> The [[Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act|Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)]] that was passed in 1958 by the Indian Government granted the Indian Army exclusive powers to maintain order in this area. Many insurgent organisations were also developed alongside cultural and political movements, making it very difficult to distinguish them from what constitutes a civil society.<ref name=":3" /> These two factors have combined to enable CSOs to be easily deemed as insurgencies and grouped with other insurgent organisations that were banned by the government, thus restricting Meghalaya's civil society as a whole.<ref name=":3" /><ref>Baruah, Apurba K. (2003) ''Tribal traditions and crises of governance in north east India, with special reference to Meghalaya.'' Crisis States Research Centre working papers series 1 (22). Crisis States Research Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK</ref>

The practice of creating [[Living root bridges]] can be found in Meghalaya. Here, functional, living, architecture is created by slowly training the [[aerial root]]s of the [[Ficus elastica]] tree. Examples of these structures can be found as far west as the valley east of [[Mawsynram]],<ref name="The Living Root Bridge Project">{{Cite news|url=https://livingrootbridges.com/root-bridges-of-the-umiam-river-basin/|title=Root Bridges of the Umiam River Basin|date=27 April 2017|work=The Living Root Bridge Project|access-date=11 September 2017|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908021631/https://livingrootbridges.com/root-bridges-of-the-umiam-river-basin/|archive-date=8 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> and as far east as the East Jaintia Hills District,<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.riluk.com/living-root-bridge-symbol-benevolence/|title=The Living-Root Bridge: The Symbol Of Benevolence|date=10 October 2016|work=Riluk|access-date=11 September 2017|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908021245/https://www.riluk.com/living-root-bridge-symbol-benevolence/|archive-date=8 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> meaning that they are made by both Khasis and Jaintias. Large numbers<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://livingrootbridges.com/|title=The Living Root Bridge Project|website=The Living Root Bridge Project|language=en-US|access-date=11 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905001717/https://livingrootbridges.com/|archive-date=5 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> of these man-made living structures exist in the mountainous terrain along the southern border of the [[Shillong Plateau]], though as a cultural practice they are fading, with many individual examples having disappeared recently, either falling in landslides or floods or being replaced with more standard steel bridges.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://livingrootbridges.com/threats-to-meghalayas-botanical-architecture/|title=Why is Meghalaya's Botanical Architecture Disappearing?|date=6 April 2017|work=The Living Root Bridge Project|access-date=11 September 2017|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911204634/https://livingrootbridges.com/threats-to-meghalayas-botanical-architecture/|archive-date=11 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

File:One half of the Shillong airport.jpg|Inside Shillong airport

Meghalaya has an estimated 500 natural limestone and sandstone caves spread over the entire state including most of the longest and deepest caves in the sub-continent. [[Krem Liat Prah]] is the longest cave, and Synrang Pamiang is the deepest cave. Both are located in the Jaintia Hills. Cavers from the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Ireland, and the United States have been visiting Meghalaya for over a decade exploring these caves. Not many of these have however been developed or promoted adequately for major tourist destinations.

*'''[[Dawki]]''': 96&nbsp;km from Shillong, is a border town, where one can have a glimpse of the neighbouring country of Bangladesh. The colourful annual boat race during spring at the Umngot river is an added attraction.

Illegal immigration has become a major issue in Indian states that surround Bangladesh – West Bengal to the west, Meghalaya and Assam to the north, and Tripura, Mizoram, and Manipur to the east. Millions of Bangladeshis have poured into India as Indian economy has prospered. The influx of Bangladeshi people is stated to be an effort to escape violence, to escape poverty or to escape.{{Citation needed|date=August 2019}} Dozens of political and civic groups have demanded that this migration be stopped or controlled to manageable levels.<ref>Palash Ghosh, [http://www.ibtimes.com/indias-2014-elections-narendra-modi-says-some-illegal-immigrants-bangladesh-are-better-others India's 2014 Elections: Narendra Modi Says Some Illegal Immigrants From Bangladesh Are Better Than Others] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715001456/http://www.ibtimes.com/indias-2014-elections-narendra-modi-says-some-illegal-immigrants-bangladesh-are-better-others |date=15 July 2014 }} International Business Times, NY Times, (2014)</ref> The border between Meghalaya and Bangladesh is about 440 kilometres long, of which some 350 is fenced; but the border is not continuously patrolled and is porous. Efforts are underway to fence it completely and introduce means to issue ID cards.<ref>V Singh, [http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/mha-asks-meghalaya-to-speed-up-border-fencing-work/ MHA asks Meghalaya to speed up border fencing work] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150428000439/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/mha-asks-meghalaya-to-speed-up-border-fencing-work/ |date=28 April 2015 }} Indian Express (16 April 2014)</ref>

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, in August 2012, called upon Government of India to take corrective measures to stop the illegal immigration of Bangladeshis into the northeast of the country before the situation goes out of hand.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/meghalayas-congress-cm-mukul-sangma-too-rings-alarm-on-influx-of-illegal-migrants/articleshow/15432673.cms|title= Meghalaya's Congress CM Mukul Sangma too rings alarm on influx of illegal migrants|date= 10 August 2012|access-date= 10 August 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120812064704/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Meghalayas-Congress-CM-Mukul-Sangma-too-rings-alarm-on-influx-of-illegal-migrants/articleshow/15432673.cms|archive-date= 12 August 2012|url-status= live|df= dmy-all|newspaper= The Economic Times}}</ref>

*''The Meghalaya Guardian'': The Meghalaya Guardian is one of the oldest newspaper of the state.